Trade opening will result in welfare gains for
SSA. But those welfare gains will not be on a
scale that will drastically reduce African poverty.
Indeed, the benefits of trade liberalization will
be severely restricted unless trade opening is
accompanied by far-reaching economic and
political changes on the African continent. If
there is no improvement in governance, including
the rule of law and corruption, domestic
and foreign investors will continue to avoid
SSA. Economic growth will remain low, as will
employment and real incomes