Times of crisis are a true test, not just for individuals but also for our supply chains, economic structures, and legal frameworks testing their resilience and inclusivity. The Coronavirus Disease pandemic was the latest reminder after several epidemics in the last decades highlighting the importance of preparedness. Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are intended to provide privileges to trading partners through lessening their paperwork, easing their trade, and thereby fostering interconnected supply chains. Despite their increasing number, they have not lived up to these expectations throughout times of crises. During the 2020 pandemic ‘stress test’, global trade practices have revealed critical gaps within these agreements, mainly relating to information access, burdensome administrative procedures, and lack of effective coordination hindering the transfer of goods. With a lens towards crisis preparedness, this article reviews the utility of existing preferential rules of origin provisions within African and European contexts. By analysing these missed opportunities within some provisions, it seeks to provide recommendations to future-proof FTAs and mitigate challenges experienced by traders in times of crises.