1963 — The Yaoundé Handshake

On July 20, 1963, Europe and Africa shook hands on trade. In Yaoundé, Cameroon, eighteen newly independent African nations signed the Yaoundé Convention with the six countries of the European Economic Community. It was the first big trade and aid agreement between Africa and Europe after independence.

The convention gave African products preferential access to European markets, and European money for African development. It lasted until 1975, when it was replaced by the Lomé Convention. The partnership was imperfect, and critics said it favored Europe, but it set the lasting template for every European Union and Africa deal that followed it.