The pan-African Continental Freetrade Zone (CFTZ) will take around two years to come into full effect, Trade and Industry Ministry spokesman Yasser Gaber says, Al Shorouk reports. According to Gaber, the 44 signatories will need time to reach consensus on the fine print. Minister Tarek Kabil had said that the next round of talks would tackle the timeframe for implementation, as well as policies on investment, competition, and trademark enforcement. Kabil signed the agreement last month, which hopes to reduce and eventually eliminate customs duties between the zone’s member states.

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