Sustainable Development: The missing piece in the Southern African Customs Union's regional trading arrangements?

The report argues that most RTAs in the SACU region focus on market access while neglecting social and environmental concerns. It highlights that trade liberalization does not automatically reduce poverty and can lead to job losses in sectors like South Africa's textile industry. The author recommends the creation of regional sustainable development guidelines, the completion of National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS), and the implementation of trade sustainability impact assessments to align trade negotiations with regional priorities.

• Most regional trade agreements reviewed prioritize market access over social or environmental considerations, and while SACU countries use these agreements to combat poverty, the link between increased trade and poverty reduction is not direct.
• Trade liberalization can lead to mixed economic outcomes; for instance, South Africa's textile industry experienced both employment growth and factory closures, while the motor industry remains vulnerable to competition if support measures are removed.
• There is a lack of research on the environmental impacts of trade liberalization in the SACU region, though legal disputes, such as a case involving a Malaysian textile investor in Namibia, illustrate potential abuses when investment is prioritized over sustainable development.
• To align trade with national and regional priorities, the document recommends establishing regional sustainable development guidelines, completing National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS), and conducting trade sustainability impact assessment studies before finalizing negotiations.
• The report suggests creating regional protocols or institutions to support sustainable development, including a regional standard for Environmental Impact Assessments and a comprehensive regional environmental policy.

APA

Sekolokwane,, W. B. (2008). Sustainable Development: The missing piece in the Southern African Customs Union's regional trading arrangements? International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/sustainable-development-missing-piece-southern-african-customs-unions-regional

Chicago

Sekolokwane,, Wolfe Braude,Khutsafalo. Sustainable Development: The missing piece in the Southern African Customs Union's regional trading arrangements? International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2008. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/sustainable-development-missing-piece-southern-african-customs-unions-regional.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sekolokwane, |first1=Wolfe Braude,Khutsafalo |title=Sustainable Development: The missing piece in the Southern African Customs Union's regional trading arrangements? |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=24 October 2008 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/sustainable-development-missing-piece-southern-african-customs-unions-regional |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sekolokwane2008sustainable, author = {Sekolokwane,, Wolfe Braude,Khutsafalo}, title = {{Sustainable Development: The missing piece in the Southern African Customs Union's regional trading arrangements?}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2008}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/sustainable-development-missing-piece-southern-african-customs-unions-regional}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }