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Sacu-US trade talks to resume
The year-long deadlock in free-trade negotiations between the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) and the US appears to have been broken with talks set to resume in September.
Local businesses stumble over Angola visas
The issue of trade visas, transfer pricing of goods and the long outstanding issue of the Bilateral Investment Agreement between Namibia and Angola are some of the challenges facing businesses in the country.
Trade talks between SACU and USA cancelled
Talks were scheduled to restart this week between deputy trade ministers of South Africa and the United States regarding a free trade agreement (FTA) between the US and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). These have now been cancelled and no new date set.
Singapore, SA eye trade pact
Singapore and South Africa have agreed to begin free trade talks later this year, as the wealthy city-state seeks to expand its economic access to African states.
Free trade with China is key
Economic diplomacy was "a central pivot" around which the South African Foreign Affairs department was anchoring its efforts to address poverty and underdevelopment in South Africa and the continent, deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad said on Friday.
SA to reopen US free trade talks
The South African government is to revive talks with the US on trade policies between Washington and the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu).
AIDS drugs dog US-Southern Africa trade deal
The United States and the Southern African trade bloc are set to revive free trade talks next month, but analysts say intellectual property rights for urgently needed AIDS drugs remain a stumbling block.
Singapore, South African Customs Union to discuss FTA
Singapore and the South African Customs Union will begin talks on a free trade agreement later this year.
SA union signs trade agreement with Mercosur
Countries making up the South African Customs (SACU) Union have signed a preferential trade agreement with Mercosur, South America’s trading bloc. However, trade negotiations with the US have run into problems.
Southern African countries have taken firm stand against EFTA demands on intellectual property rights in free trade agreement
A letter sent by South African Trade Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa to the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa confirms that the demand of EFTA Countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) to include provisions on intellectual property rights relating to medicines and agriculture in the Free Trade Agreement with SACU (South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland) has been rejected.
Competitive Liberalization and a US-SACU FTA
This paper evaluates a possible US-SACU (Southern African Customs Union) free trade agreement as part of a US approach to new preferential trade agreements characterized by the term ’competitive liberalization.’
The potential impact of US-SACU FTA negotiations on public health in southern Africa
This Working Paper was written by Tenu Avafia, a tralac researcher, and examines the potential impact of the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between SACU and the United States from the perspective of public health.
Labour: The spread of bilateral trade agreements
This report looks at major Customs Unions, Free Trade Areas, and economic association agreements around the world, with particular attention to any clauses covering social issues, core labour standards and trade union participation.
The proposed US-SACU FTA: Comparison with FTAA, CAFTA, US-Chile and US-Singapore
Many civic organizations in the SACU region and the US, especially the labor unions, as well as other governments within Southern Africa note many possible disadvantages to the proposed US-SACU FTA.
India, SACU gearing up for FTA
India and members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) hope to have a “limited scope agreement” for more liberal trading by next year, the first concrete step towards a free trade agreement (FTA).
SA near to clinching another trade deal
SACU’s deal with Efta will be a scaled-down version of the original: Efta members have agreed to Sacu’s request to shelve complex issues such as government procurement, intellectual property and investment.
Bush on top means continuity in South Africa-US relations
America will continue to enter into bilaterals with states it views strategically.
NGOs request "EFTA countries shall not endanger public health and food security in Southern Africa"
Today 57 organizations sent a letter to the trade and foreign ministers of EFTA member states urging them not to include provisions that would restrict access to medicines and farmers rights under the EFTA-SACU FTA
US-SACU trade deal: what’s in it for us?
In bilateral talks characterised by unequal power relations, the rich will force their will on the poor and the "development" element of trade deals will be diluted to the point of being meaningless. This is especially so when dealing with a country like the US that believes more trade, on its own, equals more development.
US-SACU trade talks grind to a halt
Free trade talks between the five members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the largest economy in the world have reached a dead end.