bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

South Africa


Singapore, SA closer to Free Trade Agreement
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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’
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
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
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
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.
SA must act on Zim property rights
The government should stop procrastinating over the implementation of an international agreement which would protect South African property rights in Zimbabwe - now that Harare planned to nationalise mines, says the official opposition.
South African Custom Union planning for FTA with India
The South African Customs Union is in talks with the Indian government for signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to enhance the trade and business between both the countries.
No to free trade with US
Trade experts say the United States is demanding far deeper market access than South Africa is willing to give, particularly in the area of services that are covered by regulatory protection rather than tariffs.
SA wary of calls to broaden EU trade pact
SA’s chief trade negotiator, Xavier Carim, said yesterday that it was premature for the European Union (EU) to call for a large-scale expansion of the free trade agreement between the 25-nation bloc and SA.
EU-SA free trade agreement stalls
The free trade agreement reached between South Africa and the EU on automotive products in November last year has run into trouble and has not been implemented.
India-Brazil-South Africa FTA distinct possibility: Govt
Terming an India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Free Trade Agreement as a “distinct possibility”, the Indian government said it is looking at other ways of enhancing trade relationship with the two countries.