South Africa – European Union trade: age-old chestnuts and dealmakers

The research paper examines the stalled Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations between the EU and the SADC, highlighting that the Trade Cooperation and Development Agreement (TDCA) already liberalises most trade between South Africa and the EU. It identifies agricultural market access and the EU's demand for the protection of geographical indications (GIs) as the primary remaining points of contention. The author argues that because South Africa refuses to negotiate on services, investment, and competition policy, concessions on agriculture may be the only way to reach a deal, which could potentially undermine the Southern African Customs Union's common external tariff if a final agreement is not reached by 1 January 2014.

• The Trade Cooperation and Development Agreement (TDCA) already covers approximately 90% of trade between South Africa and the EU, with 95% of EU imports from South Africa and 86% of South African imports from the EU expected to be liberalised by 2012.
• Negotiations for the SADC EPA are currently deadlocked over agricultural commodities and processed goods, specifically the EU's request for the mutual recognition and protection of geographical indications (GIs) for products such as wines, spirits, cheese, and processed meats.
• South Africa's refusal to negotiate on 'emerging issues'—including services, investment, competition policy, and government procurement—has limited its bargaining space, making concessions in the agriculture sector likely necessary to secure a deal.
• Failure to ratify and implement an EPA by 1 January 2014 will result in the loss of duty free quota free market access for non-compliant countries, potentially forcing Botswana and Namibia to face MFN tariffs and threatening the integrity of the Southern African Customs Union's common external tariff.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2011). South Africa – European Union trade: age-old chestnuts and dealmakers. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-european-union-trade-age-old-chestnuts-and-dealmakers/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. South Africa – European Union trade: age-old chestnuts and dealmakers. 2011. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-european-union-trade-age-old-chestnuts-and-dealmakers/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=South Africa – European Union trade: age-old chestnuts and dealmakers |date=4 October 2011 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-european-union-trade-age-old-chestnuts-and-dealmakers/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2011south, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{South Africa – European Union trade: age-old chestnuts and dealmakers}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2011}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-european-union-trade-age-old-chestnuts-and-dealmakers/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }