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South Africa

SA bid to shield assets in Zim
21-Aug-2006
The South African government is trying to protect its citizens’ rights in the face of Zimbabwean nationalisation moves.
Pressure on SADC states to clear way for free trade area
17-Aug-2006
Pressure was mounting on Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders to get economic integration back on track in a bid to meet the 2008 target date for a free trade area in the region, said Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad yesterday.
Mercosur moots trilateral FTA with India and SACU
14-Aug-2006
During the triangular IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) political summit on September 13 in Brazil, Mercosur is likely to propose South African Customs Union (SACU) and India the creation of a working group to explore the modalities of a trilateral free trade agreement (T-FTA) among them.
Singapore, SA closer to Free Trade Agreement
13-Aug-2006 SABC News
The first step has been taken to establish a Free Trade Agreement between Singapore and South Africa.
South Africa: Opportunities abound as world woos Africa
10-Aug-2006
Washington recently played host to the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) forum, an annual event mandated by the Agoa legislation which brings together stakeholders from Africa and the US.
Doha lull ‘gives SA time to finalise policy’
10-Aug-2006
The stalled Doha negotiations would give SA a valuable opportunity to strengthen technical consultation and tighten relations in the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) before the trade talks were resumed, SA’s chief trade negotiator, Xavier Carim, said yesterday.
Singapore, SA closer to Free Trade Agreement
10-Aug-2006
The first step has been taken to establish a Free Trade Agreement between Singapore and South Africa. Justice MPH Rubin, Singapore’s High Commissioner, is in Tshwane to facilitate the process.
Zim defiant on Bippas
31-Jul-2006
Zimbabwe is not going to change its stance on Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (Bippas) that were violated under the country’s controversial land reform programme, a position that could further strain diplomatic relations with affected nations.
Jury still out on costs and benefits of SA trade deal with China, amid fears of severe job losses
23-Jun-2006 Business Day
A free trade agreement with China would have a drastically negative effect on the clothing and footwear sectors in South Africa - but the overall economic effect would be positive, says one of the first of a series of studies.
South Africa: Engaging China
21-Jun-2006
This week’s visit by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to seven African countries, including SA, is a highly strategic one.
PM to explore chances of FTAs with Brazil, SA
20-Jun-2006 Economic Times
When Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attends the IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) summit in Brazil on September 13, one of the main issues on the agenda is the possibility of a trilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the regional groupings in Latin America and South Africa.
South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, has calls for more regional trade cooperation
20-Jun-2006
The South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Mandisi Mpahlwa, has called for more regional trade cooperations among African states.
US-Southern Africa free trade pact seen unlikely
3-Jun-2006 Reuters
The United States and Southern African nations are unlikely to clinch a free trade agreement but will continue talks at a lower level, South Africa’s trade minister said.
US invites African ministers to talks on market access
15-May-2006 Business Day
Washington has invited African trade and finance ministers for talks on the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) - the US partial free trade regime for imports from Africa.
Cosatu warns of job losses on SA-China trade deal
13-Apr-2006 SABC News
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has warned government that thousands of textile workers, especially women, will soon join the unemployment queue.
Manufacturing a trade pact with China
3-Apr-2006
The proposed free-trade agreement with China is intended to better position South African business to gain access to China’s economy. But will it?
’Inflexible US threatens southern Africa free-trade deal’
31-Mar-2006 Cape Argus
South Africa has urged the United States to be more flexible in negotiations towards a free-trade pact with southern Africa, warning that current talks may fail to secure a deal.
India-Brazil-South Africa: The southern trade powerhouse makes its debut
15-Mar-2006 COHA
Although India, Brazil, and South Africa share bilateral trade agreements amongst themselves, binding trilateral free trade arrangements between the countries are not an option at the present time because of previously signed multinational agreements involving their neighboring nations.
Shipping pact with Brazil, S. Africa
11-Mar-2006 The Hindu
India announced that it is evolving an agreement in maritime shipping within IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) and working out modalities to implement the framework agreement in civil aviation in the region. It cautioned, however, that since Brazil and South Africa were members of MERCOSUR and SACU, there were constraints in working out a trilateral FTA within the IBSA framework.
Friend and foe
8-Mar-2006
China is muscling its way not only into the global economy but also into Africa, a world that SA companies might have thought was their oyster after the walls of apartheid came down a decade ago.