Exports to Brazil take off over South American trade deal
SA producers still accuse country of unfair trade practices, saying it is dumping chickens and sugar
The ratification of trade agreements between the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), a South American trade bloc, has been a key driver of the increase in exports to Brazil. SA exports to Brazil for the year 2018 shot up to $183m from $43m in 2016-2017 as the government’s drive to boost export performance gathers steam. However, SA producers still accuse Brazil of unfair trade practices, saying that country is dumping chickens and sugar in SA. The sectors have called on the government to impose higher tariffs on the Brazilian goods. Sacu includes SA, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini. In his state of the nation address in February, President Cyril Ramaphosa said to boost economic growth and alleviate unemployment, SA had to find larger markets for its goods and services. “We will therefore be focusing greater attention on expanding exports. In line with the jobs summit commitments, we will focus on the export of manufacture...
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