Protectionism, WTO Reform, and AI: What’s Next for African Trade

Episode Summary

Global trade is being reshaped by rising protectionism, a struggling WTO, and the rapid growth of the digital economy. In this episode, Amar speaks with Ebere Ezike, International Trade Lawyer and Founder of AfCFTA Dialogues, and Ben McConkey, Economic Advisor to Somaliland’s Ministry of Trade and Tourism and an ODI Fellow, about what these shifts mean for Africa and other low-income economies.

The conversation covers how countries can diversify trade partnerships, build regional value chains, and use AI and digital services to drive growth — even as multilateral trade rules come under strain. Ezike and McConkey also discuss the role of industrial policy in African development and what genuine resilience looks like in an increasingly fractured trading system.