Where to for South Africa and the Doha Development Agenda?

This research paper analyzes the impasse of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) following a ministerial meeting and evaluates the strategic negotiating position South Africa should adopt. It highlights the tension between domestic policy imperatives—specifically industrial policy and agricultural support—and the need for multilateral trade agreements.

• The Doha Development Agenda (DDA) remains in a state of deadlock due to a lack of balance between the concessions demanded and made by developed countries and emerging economies. Despite this, member states continue to express a commitment to resolving the round.
• The author identifies a 'Group of 11' (G11) consisting of the US, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan, Brazil, India, China, Argentina, Mauritius, and South Africa as the key players whose compromise is essential for the round's conclusion.
• South Africa's agricultural strategy is primarily offensive, seeking greater market access in developed countries to counter the effects of developed country subsidies. However, South Africa also seeks to expand domestic subsidies for rural farmers and land reform beneficiaries.
• Regarding industrial goods and services (NAMA), South Africa views further trade liberalization as contrary to its domestic industrial policy. It has negotiated a 'carve-out' for the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) to avoid severe tariff cuts, though the final structure of this carve-out remains undecided.
• The paper suggests that South Africa should use the services sector as a primary area for concessions to secure gains in agriculture and protect its NAMA carve-out, despite a historically defensive stance in services to protect government-controlled infrastructure.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2012). Where to for South Africa and the Doha Development Agenda? https://saiia.org.za/research/where-to-for-south-africa-and-the-doha-development-agenda/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Where to for South Africa and the Doha Development Agenda? 2012. https://saiia.org.za/research/where-to-for-south-africa-and-the-doha-development-agenda/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Where to for South Africa and the Doha Development Agenda? |date=11 January 2012 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/where-to-for-south-africa-and-the-doha-development-agenda/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2012where, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Where to for South Africa and the Doha Development Agenda?}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2012}, month = jan, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/where-to-for-south-africa-and-the-doha-development-agenda/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }