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

This report examines the role of sustainable development within the regional trade agreements (RTAs) of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), arguing that market access alone is insufficient to alleviate poverty and that a comprehensive sustainable development agenda is necessary to balance economic growth with social and environmental conservation.

• Most regional trade agreements reviewed focus primarily on market access, neglecting social and environmental concerns. While SACU countries use these agreements to combat high poverty levels, the relationship between increased trade and poverty reduction is not direct, suggesting market access is a necessary but insufficient condition for realizing trade benefits.
• Trade liberalization presents mixed economic outcomes for South Africa. While cheaper inputs can aid domestic manufacturers and reduce overpricing, increased import competition can lead to job losses and reduced production. The textile industry experienced both employment growth and factory closures, and the motor industry remains vulnerable if support measures are removed.
• The environmental effects of trade liberalization in the SACU region were undocumented at the time of writing. However, a legal case brought by Namibian trade unions against a Malaysian textile investor is cited as an example of potential abuses when trade and investment are prioritized over sustainable development.
• To align trade negotiations with national and regional priorities, the report recommends creating regional sustainable development guidelines and overarching priorities to complement National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS). It also suggests establishing regional protocols or institutions, such as a regional standard for Environmental Impact Assessments and a comprehensive regional environmental policy.
• SACU countries require trade sustainability impact assessment studies to obtain detailed information on economic, social, and environmental implications before finalizing trade negotiations. Additionally, there is a need for national expertise to manage institutional and policy changes resulting from international trade reform commitments, such as those from the WTO.

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} }