Policy Effectiveness and Regional Trade

A Study of the BIAT Action Plan in West Africa, 2012–2022

Abstract

This study critically examines the effectiveness of the Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT) in promoting intra-regional trade in West Africa between 2012 and 2022. Despite the long-standing recognition of trade integration as a driver of regional development, intra-regional trade in West Africa remains comparatively modest, accounting for a limited share of total trade flows. The BIAT Action Plan, adopted by the African Union in 2012, was designed to address structural barriers to trade by focusing on policy clusters such as trade facilitation, productive capacity, trade-related infrastructure, finance, and market integration. Using a mixed-methods approach, this paper combines documentary analysis, trade statistics, and secondary literature to evaluate the extent to which BIAT has influenced trade flows, reduced barriers, and fostered integration across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Findings suggest that while the Action Plan has generated awareness of the need for harmonized trade policies and has spurred some progress in customs cooperation and infrastructure development, its overall effectiveness in significantly boosting intra-regional trade has been limited. Persistent challenges—including inadequate transport and energy infrastructure, overlapping regional trade regimes, low productive capacity, and the prevalence of informal cross-border trade—continue to constrain progress. The paper argues that the BIAT Action Plan has laid an important policy foundation but has not yet translated into transformative trade outcomes in West Africa. Strengthening implementation mechanisms, addressing structural bottlenecks, and ensuring greater synergy with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are critical for enhancing its future effectiveness.