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Critically assess the significance of trade blocs as an avenue for economic development in Africa. In your answer, outline the potential of the South African trade strategies to benefit from international trade.

PDRTFDIJO THEME: THE CONSEQUENCES OF CONE-1S FOR THE GLOBALISATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN ECONOMIES SQUID-1S was a terrible blow to Southern African economies. The contraction in economic activity has been substantial because of the low utilisation of goods and services. COWS-19 is an aggressive virus and necessitated signicant changes in the processes and procedures in the global trade environment. The disease spread speedily from China and Europe to Southern Africa and resulted in a shutdown of many industrial supplyr chains, lower revenues and a high rate of unemployment. Despite great adversity, growth is still possible. The World Trade Organisation MFG} has been transparent about the measures to be taken in this crisis. Since its fom'Iation in 1995, it has concluded multinational treaties with 164 countries and aims to build Southem African economies that are responsive to global realities. The WTO is mandated to monitor the pandemic-related interventions and ensure that every member state keeps its markets open. The pandemic has proven that the WTO plays a pivotal role in ensuring the economic management of African countries and the magnitude of global interdependence. A reasonable economic recovery has been reported in the second half of 2020 and the WTO anticipated economic growth exceeding 8% in world merchandise for 221. This is mostly because of trade restrictions and policies that have been attenuated. In $21 the WTCI forecasted an increase of 5.3% in the global GDP. which was higher than the 5.1% predicted in March 2021?. Steady economic growth is predicted to rise li'orn 3.3% to 4.1% in 21122. If the current forecast is achieved, African countries\" export growth is projected to be more than their import growth. The WTCI. in collaboration with General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade {GATT}. has made several efforts to ensure that developing countries secure their share in the world merchandise in accordance with their economic. political and legal conditions. Among these efforts are trade agreements aimed at weakening trade barriers and boosting the ow of goods and services between African nations. The WTO recent trade strategies and policy instmments in response to SQUID-1Q aim to solve the problems confronting Southern African economies