Davies to press for quick UK deal
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies will seek a post-Brexit preferential trade pact
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies will seek a commitment from his British counterpart, Liam Fox, that the UK is willing to enter into post-Brexit trade negotiations with SA as soon as possible. Davies wants a trade deal to be concluded by the time Britain leaves the EU. He is expected to meet Fox in the UK on Tuesday. Such an outcome of the meeting between the two ministers would be extremely good news, Trade Law Centre of Southern Africa (Tralac) executive director Trudi Hartzenberg said. It was essential to avoid a situation "where the UK leaves the EU and we have no preferential trade agreement in place", Hartzenberg said. Davies said in an interview from London ahead of his meeting with Fox that SA would request that the economic partnership agreement which the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) and Mozambique have signed with the EU should be the template for a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK. The agreement took effect from October 2016. A key issue, however, would b...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.