Effect of Regional Integration on Intra-Regional Informal Agricultural Trade in West Africa

Abstract

This research, based on the gravity model, explores the complex relationship between regional integration and intra-regional informal agricultural trade in West Africa over the period 2010–2022. By assessing the major impact of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) and the gradual implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), it reveals a paradoxical dynamic: despite institutional progress in regional integration, informal agricultural trade  -  largely driven by small-scale operators  -  remains insufficiently addressed in regional policies and strategies. The findings highlight a significant correlation between these integration initiatives and a marked decline in informal agricultural trade, thereby raising critical questions about the effective inclusion of these key actors in regional economic integration frameworks.