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Trade

Trade is the main activity of exchange of goods and services. It covers all transactions between individuals, between organizations or between individuals and organizations. It complements the production activity by being used to remunerate the supply of a good or a service, essentially by the use of money. Over the past decade, advances in information and communication technologies have dramatically changed everyday life and opened up new possibilities for consumers and businesses. In its resolution 70/186 dated 22 December 2015, the General Assembly noted that “consumers around the world are increasingly using electronic commerce, including mobile commerce, and considered that the possibilities offered by this type must be harnessed to facilitate economic development and growth through new technologies but also the lives of consumers.

 

A growing number of consumers have access to the Internet and make online purchases, which allows them to access products and services (hereinafter "products") more easily and quickly. Electronic commerce also poses different challenges for consumers than other commercial transactions; it was therefore necessary to adapt the legislative and regulatory frameworks.

 

It is for these reasons that we find it necessary to position our union on the issues in this area. Take part in continental exchange or negotiation processes as a representative of consumers as a whole. From the World Trade Organization (WTO), to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) through UNCTAD, our organizations are getting active and pushing institutions through advocacy.

Finally, the creation of an African continental free trade area by African countries within the African Union constitutes both an opportunity for the development of intraregional trade and a challenge for the continent. The UAC is convinced that the realization of this historic Agreement cannot be done without the strong involvement of consumer associations and the appropriation of African consumers of the concept of local and African consumption to increase the share of intraregional trade. The AUC and its members are mobilizing to campaign and carry out advocacy at the national and regional level to support African governments and the AU in meeting the challenges.


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