Trade in Food Staples: Promoting Price Stability and Food Security through Intra-Regional Trade

Two upcoming developments in regional trade policy – the COMESA customs union and the COMESA, SADC, and EAC free trade zone – have the potential to promote regional economic integration and trade. • International markets prices affect cereal markets of Eastern and Southern Africa differently in different countries. • Cross-border trade within the region can help to smooth price volatility and alleviate domestic food shortages. Variability in climatic conditions and staggered harvesting in the region allow surplus areas to supply food to deficit areas within and between countries. • Enabling policies and public investments remain necessary for these benefits to occur