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Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

Comesa OrbThe Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is the largest regional economic organization in Africa, with 19 member states and a population of about 390 million.

COMESA has a free trade area, with 19 member states, and launched a customs union in 2009.

COMESA countries include:

  • Burundi
  • Comoros
  • D.R. Congo
  • Djibouti
  • Egypt
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Kenya
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mauritius
  • Rwanda
  • Seychelles
  • Sudan
  • Swaziland
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Trade & Investment Summary

U.S. goods exports to COMESA in 2022 were $10.2 billion, up 14.1 percent ($1.3 billion) from 2021 and up 7 percent from 2012. U.S. goods imports from COMESA totaled $9.4 billion in 2022, up 2.2 percent ($201 million) from 2021, and up 24 percent from 2012.  The U.S. trade balance with COMESA shifted from a goods trade deficit of $221 million in 2021 to a goods trade surplus of $842 million in 2022.

U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in COMESA (stock) was $20.2 billion in 2022, a 6.6 percent increase from 2021.

COMESA's FDI in the United States (stock) was $5.2 billion in 2022, up 2.4 percent from 2021.


*NOTE: COMESA (19) countries include: Burundi, Comoros, Congo, Dem Rep., Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.