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SADC

Bid to merge three trading blocs faces disparity threat
15-Nov-2009
Relative advancement of Kenya, South Africa and Egypt’s economies has emerged as one of the leading threats to the merger of three African trading blocs, trade experts said, citing potential disputes that lie in joining economies that are at different levels of development in a seamless market.
Africa blocs draft giant free trade roadmap
11-Nov-2009
Three African trade blocs that have agreed to form a free trade area covering more than half a billion people created a long overdue roadmap on Monday.
Free trade versus tariffs
26-Oct-2009
The debate over the future trajectory of South Africa’s economic policy is about much more than the powers of Trevor Manuel and the planning ministry.
Trade blocs agree to simple rules of origin
24-Aug-2009 East African
Three leading regional trading blocs in Africa — EAC, COMESA and SADC — have simplified the rules of origin to be applied by all member states in a move aimed at boosting intra-continental trade.
Economic pact with EU causes discord among Sadc members
31-Jul-2009 Engineering News
One of the underlying principles of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community is that it should complement and support regional integration initiatives. However, the signing of the Interim EPA by some member states, and not by others, has generated uncertainty within the region.
EU says SA ‘bullying’ neighbours
10-Jul-2009 Times of Swaziland
It seems the problems emanating from the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) are far from over, as SA and EU have started exchanging strong ‘words’.
Europe’s abusive EPA condemned as it tears Africa apart
5-Jun-2009 Afrik.com
Now, Africans are hitting back at Europe
Economic Partnership Agreements: EU and Southern African countries sign interim deal
5-Jun-2009 Europa
The European Union signed an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on 4 June 2009 with Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Mozambique has signalled its intention to sign this agreement in the near future, but its trade minister was unable to come to Brussels today.
Southern Africa still kicking against controversial EPA
29-May-2009 IPS
High-level talks at a Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) meeting in Gaborone last week failed to produce an agreement on the signing of the interim economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the European Union.
EU Keen on Namibian EPA
12-May-2009
The European Union says it looks forward to concluding an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Namibia and other countries in the SADC-EPA region.
COSATU calls for rejection of EU-SADC Partnership Agreement
4-May-2009 Times of Swaziland
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is celebrating the rejection of European Union-SADC Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (IEPA) negotiations by the governments of South Africa and Angola and is mobilising for a political intervention in the whole agreement negotiations.
European Union pushes trade deal on Africa
20-Apr-2009 Final Call
The signing of a finalized economic partnership agreement (EPA) between the European Union and southern African countries seems imminent-despite regional trade fragmentation remaining a danger.
26 African states sign free trade area agreement
10-Apr-2009
Twenty six African countries seeking to merge their economies into a single trading bloc that controls a combined wealth of $ 624m and a market of 527m people moved to a definitive stage after their leaders approved plans to establish a free trade area early this week.
SA may be excluded from EU partner deal
17-Mar-2009 Business Day
The European Union is likely to move towards the official signing of an interim economic partnership agreement, known as an EPA, with countries of the Southern African Development Community that will exclude South Africa.
EU Trade Commissioner pushes for economic integration with African nations
19-Feb-2009 ICTSD
EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton visited several nations in Southern Africa last week, where she held talks with key governmental leaders. Although the general purpose of the trip was to promote bilateral and regional trade relations, Ashton also hoped to make progress on a potential Economic Partnership Agreement, or EPA, between members of the South African Development Community (SADC) and the European Union.
Trading blocs to continue with EPA negotiations
12-Feb-2009
The EU Trade Commissioner, Catherine Ashton, was scheduled to arrive in Botswana on Wednesday for talks with senior SADC officials.
Southern Africa under spotlight to thrash out region’s trade policies
12-Dec-2008
Southern Africa is at a crossroads. While the rest of the world is heaving and buckling under the weight of the financial crisis, the subcontinent is battling to overcome centuries of colonial and other boundaries through adopting agreements about a free trade area.
Pooling of Resources Critical to Resolving SADC Energy Shortages
2-Dec-2008
Regional stakeholders in the energy industry meeting in Tanzania have called for cooperation, integration and pooling of resources in the energy sector as the only way of dealing with energy shortages in southern Africa.
SADC Free Trade a Boon for Namibian Market, Says Report
1-Dec-2008
The size of the domestic market has long been a thorn in the flesh for local businesses.
The trouble with our Africa trade negotiators
26-Nov-2008 Business Daily Africa
Agricultural and development economies in Sub-Saharan Africa are the flavour of the month. The global credit crisis, wide-scale economic meltdown and financial recession have sparked a wave of interest about the implications for Africa. It is crucial that this discussion happens.