SADC trade with EU remains imbalanced, says Rob Davies
The trade agreement signed with the EU in 2016 is a big improvement on the previous one, but SADC exports are still dominated by raw materials
The economic partnership agreement six southern African states have with the EU, while beneficial, remains structurally imbalanced, trade and industry minister Rob Davies said on Monday. Exports from the southern African states continued to be dominated by raw materials such as mineral commodities, the minister said in an interview ahead of the the first meeting in Cape Town on Tuesday of the joint council of the EU-Southern African Development Community (SADC) economic partnership. Davies and EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström will attend the meeting. SA, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique and Namibia signed the economic partnership agreement with the EU in 2016 and it came into force in October of that year. It replaced and improved upon the trade chapter of the trade development and co-operation agreement between SA and the EU that entered into force in 2000. Through the economic partnership agreement SA gained improved market access into the EU for agricultural product...
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.