ISDS Case Map
South Africa
The conclusion of a fisheries agreement between SA and the European Union has had to take second place to other considerations, even though SA's fish exports to the EU are attracting duties that some other countries' are not.
South African farmers in Zimbabwe will not forfeit their land or investments as a result of a bilateral agreement still to be signed, a Pretoria judge ordered.
The imminent signing of a new bilateral investment protection treaty (BIPPA) between Zimbabwe and South Africa could be halted, if an application in the Pretoria High Court on behalf of more than 200 farmers proves successful on Thursday.
South Africa's main agriculture and farming union has expressed concern about the bilateral investment treaty agreed with Zimbabwe, which is set to exclude South African owned farms that were expropriated by the Robert Mugabe regime during the chaotic land 'reform' programme.
The debate over the future trajectory of South Africa's economic policy is about much more than the powers of Trevor Manuel and the planning ministry.
Durban-based Illovo Sugar -- Africa's biggest producer, majority-owned by British Sugar -- said it plans to raise output by 50 percent to nearly 3 million tonnes in the next five years to cash in on the new tariff-free EU access.
While Agri SA has been leading a push for South African farmers to invest and farm in a number of other countries across Africa, including the Republic of Congo, Libya and Zambia, the union has urged its members to stay away from countries where South Africa has no investment protection agreements.
The Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) between Zimbabwe and South Africa, initially scheduled for signing in April and later deferred to June, is headed for total collapse as the two parties have failed to agree on the wording of Article 11 of the agreement.
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is having very painful discussions at the moment in Swaziland on its very future, said Minister in the Presidency for National Planning, Trevor Manuel.
South Africa and the European Union on Friday signed an amended trade, development and co-operation agreement and also pledged to intensify work to bridge gaps preventing conclusion of Doha trade talks.
