Microsoft Word - Mandelson.doc

A statement by Peter Mandelson, Member of the European Commission, delivered on 10 February 2006, regarding the trade and political relationship between the European Union and South Africa, specifically focusing on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and regional integration in Southern Africa.

• Since the provisional application of the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) in January 2000, South African exports to the EU increased by 46%. The EU notes a positive shift in the composition of this trade, as South Africa moves from commodity-based products toward a more diversified structure that includes more manufactured products.
• The EU seeks a 'big agenda' to expand the trade relationship through the TDCA review, focusing on services, investment, procurement, customs, trade facilitation, and competition. Mandelson emphasizes the need for the TDCA and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to align to support regional integration, urging greater South African involvement in EPA negotiations with seven SADC members (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Angola).
• Regarding the Doha Development Agenda (DDA), the EU has proposed that after a successful round, it will have no industrial tariffs above 15%, and potentially none above 10%. While the EU maintains that its agricultural offers on subsidies and tariffs provide real market access, it insists that these must be matched by other parties with movement in industrial goods and services.
• The EU expresses dissatisfaction that South Africa has not yet tabled an initial offer or request in the DDA services negotiations. Mandelson argues that an open services sector reduces overheads in agriculture and industry and encourages South Africa to lead other developing countries by making an early post-Hong Kong services offer.
• The EU identifies South-South trade as the primary key to growth, noting that it already accounts for 40% of developing countries' exports, yet 70% of duties paid by developing countries are paid to other developing countries. The EU calls on South Africa to use its position in the G-90 and as a regional leader to push the G-20 to open their markets.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2006). Microsoft Word - Mandelson.doc. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Mandelson_Feb_2006.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Microsoft Word - Mandelson.doc. 2006. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Mandelson_Feb_2006.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Microsoft Word - Mandelson.doc |date=10 February 2006 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Mandelson_Feb_2006.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2006microsoft, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Microsoft Word - Mandelson.doc}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2006}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/Mandelson_Feb_2006.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }