Global trade faced escalating challenges due to the pandemic, with restrictions almost doubling in 2020 and further climbing up to over 2,800 annual restrictions in 2022. Merchandise imports and exports saw the most annual restrictions at 2,033, followed by services at 573 and investments at 239. Additionally, supply chain disruptions, such as the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea, which has rerouted much of the ocean container traffic around Africa, are driving up costs, fueling geopolitical tensions, and impacting trade. While ports in Africa will benefit from increased cargo traffic in the short term, the combined effect of regulatory restrictions and supply chain disruptions diminishes net trade.