Asia-Africa trade ties: is Africa diving into a debt trap?

Abstract

This paper reviews the Asia-Africa trade ties by examining the history and trends of the commercial transactions between the two continents. The study noted that the early 2000s portrayed moribund international trading relationships between Africa and Asia while mid2010s have shown increasing commercial interests in Africa by the Asian counterparts. The study relied on secondary data from global databanks with information on international trade. The current trade wars between China and the U.S were noted to be a contributing factor in the increasing commercial interests of China in Africa; especially regarding its ever-increasing demand for energy and raw materials. The paper highlights challenges, opportunities for establishing mutually beneficial trade ties, as well as possible suggestions on best practices to deter Africa from diving into a debt trap. The study provides a springboard upon which further research and debates on Asia-Africa trade ties can be conducted to inform policy formulation and implementation in Africa.