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This research paper argues that South Africa and other developing nations should accept a 'bad deal' in the Doha round of WTO negotiations to prevent the collapse of the multilateral trading system and avoid the risks of bilateral trade agreements dominated by wealthy nations.

This briefing records a June 2006 discussion hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) regarding economic cooperation within the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) initiative. The proceedings focus on the strategic objectives of South-South cooperation and a specific exploration of potential collaboration in the aerospace sector, highlighting the gap between political rhetoric and tangible business integration.

This trade policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the political economy of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), focusing on the transition from a model of South African dominance to the consensus-based 'open regionalism' established by the 2002 agreement.

This briefing records a roundtable discussion featuring Luke Eric Petersen on the implications of South Africa's Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) for development and human rights. The discussion highlights how these treaties may restrict South Africa's regulatory space, particularly regarding Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies and poverty eradication, and calls for a detailed review of existing agreements to ensure alignment with domestic policy objectives.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the state of services trade within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It identifies critical deficiencies in core infrastructure services—transport, energy, telecommunications, and finance—as significant constraints on the region's economic growth and international competitiveness. The document reviews regional integration efforts, the impact of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and the challenges associated with the movement of natural persons (Mode 4) for service provision.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes South Africa's (SA) positions and strategy within the World Trade Organization (WTO) agricultural trade negotiations. It examines the domestic policy-making processes, the influence of stakeholders like Agri SA, and SA's role in international coalitions including the G20, the Cairns Group, and the African Group. The document details SA's specific stances on the three pillars of agriculture negotiations: market access, domestic support, and export competition, while recommending greater transparency and more detailed identification of specific domestic offensive and defensive interests.

This 2006 report analyzes trade and investment barriers between South Africa, India, and Brazil. It finds that while trade is growing, particularly between South Africa and Brazil, it remains hampered by high tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and a lack of awareness among the business sector regarding the IBSA initiative. The report recommends reducing customs duties, improving infrastructure, and involving the private sector in trade agreement implementation.

The research paper compares the differing responses of two regional bodies, ECOWAS and SADC, to political crises in Togo and Zimbabwe in early 2006. It highlights ECOWAS's decisive intervention against a military-backed dynastic succession in Togo and SADC's 'hands-off' approach toward Robert Mugabe's government in Zimbabwe despite violations of electoral codes.

This research paper discusses the challenges Southern Africa faces regarding political and economic integration, specifically in the context of negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union (EU).

This report examines the roles of leadership, governance, and capacity building in African development, specifically focusing on how skills and expertise contribute to the implementation of development policies and the continuity of those policies across leadership changes.

This briefing records a discussion by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) on the potential for a trade agreement between the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and China. It examines China's economic rise, the complementary nature of the two economies, and the political tensions within SACU regarding job losses in light industry versus the welfare gains of cheaper imports.

The National Chairman's Annual Statement 2006 from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the shifting global balance of power, the rise of emerging economies in the South, and the specific geopolitical and economic challenges facing Africa and South Africa.

The document critiques the use of voluntary export restraints and quota systems by South Africa, the European Union, and the United States to limit Chinese textile and apparel imports. The author argues that these measures are 'symptomatic medication' that delay necessary market adjustments and fail to address the fundamental lack of competitiveness in mass-produced clothing.

A statement by WTO Director General Pascal Lamy delivered on February 10, 2006, in Johannesburg, South Africa, outlining the progress made at the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference and the roadmap for concluding the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) by the end of 2006.

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.

This statement from the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that the South African Parliament has become increasingly irrelevant due to a 'democratic deficit' where Members of Parliament (MPs) are accountable to political parties rather than the electorate. The author calls for fundamental reconceptualisation of the institution, specifically through electoral reform and the introduction of a social charter to ensure MP accountability.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs provides an overview of the socio-economic and political state of South Africa's agricultural sector between 1994 and 2004. It details the transition from apartheid-era protections to a deregulated, liberalised market, the persistent dualism between commercial and smallholder farming, and a strategic shift in trade from bulk commodities toward value-added horticultural exports.

This report analyzes the potential for the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) to increase goods exports to the United States by transitioning from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) to a formal Free Trade Agreement (FTA). It concludes that while an FTA could provide legal certainty and extend duty-free access to specific products, the most significant benefits would likely come from relaxing rules of origin and limiting the use of US trade remedies, such as anti-dumping duties.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the experiences of South African firms operating in Egypt. It analyzes Egypt's macroeconomic stability, its shift toward a liberalized market economy, and the specific challenges faced by South African investors, including cultural barriers, bureaucratic red tape, and corruption. The document provides policy recommendations for both the Egyptian and South African governments to enhance bilateral trade and investment.

This research paper, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in 2006, analyzes South Africa's position as a regional hub and its role in global structural policy. It examines the country's economic integration, socio-economic challenges, environmental policies, and its evolving approach to global governance and trade, specifically focusing on its relations with Germany and other developing nations.