The question posed in the title is deliberately paradoxical – self-sufficiency must surely always be the enemy of expanding trade in electricity. Apparently not: self-sufficiency in generation capacity (MW) can be what unlocks political acceptance of expanding trade in electrical energy (GWh). Regional power trade is very well established in Europe and the Americas, but less so in other parts of the world. This Viewpoint provides perspectives on politically-driven constraints to power trade in two developing country regions. READ ECA VIEWPOINT HERE