Скачать или смотреть African leaders agree to start continental free trade zone negotiations

The African Union (AU) has concluded its 25th summit Tuesday in Johannesburg.

At the summit, African leaders agreed to start negotiations on a continental free trade zone by 2017.

Under the agreement, African nations are expected to reduce trade barriers amongst themselves by reducing export and import duties, and removing visa requirements in some cases.

The move followed a deal signed last week to create a large free trade area covering 26 African nations.

Three trade blocs -- the Southern African Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the East African Community -- have signed an pact, known as The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), spanning an area from Cairo to Cape Town.