ISDS Case Map
SACU
Southern Africa Customs Union
After calling off negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with five Southern African countries last month, the US has indicated its intentions to negotiate new trade arrangements with several African countries including Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique and Ghana.
What a blow. The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) has not yet made up its mind on extension of the duty-free market access for four textiles and garment exporting countries, including Malawi, Economic Report has learnt.
The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community, Dr Tomaz Augusto Salomao, says exchanges made during his meeting with the Southern African Customs Union Executive Secretary, Tswelopele Moremi, will increase cooperation between SADC and SACU.
The United States and Southern African nations are unlikely to clinch a free trade agreement but will continue talks at a lower level, South Africa's trade minister said.
The latest round of talks between the US and the five-member Southern African Customs Union (SACU) on a free trade agreement has failed to yield fruits, with many blaming the US for seeking to impose a one-size-fits-all formula.
Today, as US Trade Rep. Robert Portman stepped down to run the Office of Management and Budget, civil society organizations in the US and South Africa are applauding the rejection of the USTR's efforts to revive the US-Southern Africa Customs Union Free Trade Agreement (US-SACU FTA) negotiations.
US activists for trade justice dubbed the week of April 16 as the week of action. By the end of the week, thanks to key events revealing an unraveling of the Bush administration's free trade agenda, trade activists campaigning for a more just global trade system celebrated victory.
The road to US duy-free access could be longer than expected for a series of emerging countries. While Pakistan was recently refused that textiles and apparel benefit from preferential treatment, chances of duty-free access for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Cambodia are progressively fading.
The US will look for other ways to kick-start investment in southern Africa.
Interview with Deputy US Trade Representative Karan Bhatia.
