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South Africa

SA envoy clears mist on economic agreements
29-Mar-2008
Short-term benefits brought by Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) should not stand in the way of long term prosperity and integration of the SADC region, says South Africas High Commissioner to Botswana, Mr Dikgang Moopeloa.
EU trade deals harm Africa unity - S.Africa’s Mbeki
6-Mar-2008
South Africa will continue engaging with the European Union to ensure new trade agreements with African countries do not harm regional integration, President Thabo Mbeki said on Thursday.
SA Trade Negotiators Play Hardball With EU
6-Mar-2008
EU trade chief Peter Mandelson dangled a carrot in front of SA’s negotiators at the weekend, hinting at greater access to European markets in exchange for SA returning to the negotiating table to resolve a standoff over a stalled regional trade deal with the EU.
Mandelson in eggdance to placate SA, Namibia
5-Mar-2008
EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson spoke of a "significant development" at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ministerial meeting held in Botswana yesterday.
SA-EU Trade Row Puts Customs Union At Risk
26-Feb-2008
The future of the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) hangs in the balance, even as engagement takes place at the highest political level to save the world’s oldest customs union from collapsing.
India, South Africa to discuss free trade pact
21-Feb-2008 AFP
The quest for a free trade pact would be high on the agenda this week of high-level talks between South Africa and India in Pretoria, a government official said Thursday.
ANC MP accuses EU of ‘recolonising’ Africa
7-Feb-2008 Business Day
The biannual meeting of European and South African parliamentarians to discuss South Africa-EU relations got off to a rocky start yesterday when a top African National Congress MP accused the Europeans of recolonising Africa through EPAs.
Govt may face ‘claims worth billions’ from foreign firms
7-Feb-2008 Engineering News
Foreign companies operating in South Africa that have lost production and ultimately profit as a result of the power supply crisis might be able to sue the government under bilateral investment treaties
No amount of EU money can right the wrongs of proposed EPAs
16-Dec-2007 The Times
Europe’s EPA agenda poses a grave danger to the people and economy of South Africa.
S. Africa says "serious issues" remain in EU talks
13-Dec-2007 Reuters
South Africa said on Wednesday that "serious issues" needed to be addressed in African nations’ trade talks with the European Union, but it did not rule out the possibility of reaching a comprehensive deal.
Nam, SA fail to sign new EU trade deal
26-Nov-2007
Namibia and South Africa were the only two southern African countries that did not sign Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) for a new trade deal with the European Union on Friday.
EU trade chief fears ’plot’ to block deal
23-Nov-2007
Africa’s largest nations are trying to block the signing of the economic partnership agreements with the European Union, Peter Mandelson, EU trade commissioner has claimed.
IBSA summit a "political endorsement" for future plans
21-Oct-2007 AllAfrica.com
Certain analysts were critical of the summit’s achievements, saying it failed to make real headway with matters central to trade between the three regional powers — such as tariffs.
South Africa: trade talks
20-Oct-2007 AllAfrica.com
South Africa has been negotiating a slew of bilateral trade agreements for a long time. Yet we don’t seem to be able to dot the i’s and cross the t’s on any of these.
Joint declaration of second IBSA summit
20-Oct-2007 South Africa government
The declaration issued after the Tshwane India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Summit on 17 October 2007.
India, Brazil, South Africa aim for free trade, sign seven accords
18-Oct-2007 Earth Times
India, Brazil and South Africa cemented their trilateral cooperation by signing seven agreements here Wednesday and resolved to push for a free trade area, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calling for considerably enhancing trade among the three.
No port, no sherry and no 15m euros
15-Oct-2007 Business Report
In return for free access to the EU and payment of €15 million, the South African government agreed to phase out the names port, sherry, grappa and ouzo over five years. Five years later, disillusionment and frustration has set in, with port producers in fear that the EU will renege on the agreement.
India, Brazil, South Africa - the power of three
15-Oct-2007 IPS
IBSA was conceived in 2003 to counterbalance the powerful Group of Eight alliance of industrialised countries and to promote South-South cooperation. But a reality check reveals that all three IBSA members still do by far most of their business with industrialised countries.
SAfrica won’t ’roll over’ on services trade with EU
14-Oct-2007 Reuters
The European Union needs to scale down its ambitions for accessing the service sector in southern Africa as it negotiates an economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the region, said South Africa’s deputy trade minister Rob Davies.
India to start FTA talks with Brazil, S Africa this week
4-Oct-2007 Times of India
Bilateral trade agreement with Asean and European Union are passe. The stage is set for the first trans-continental treaty with India, South Africa and Mercosur — comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay — launching negotiations on a preferential trade agreement later this week.India will also start technical negotiations on Saturday for a PTA with the Southern African Customs Union, which consists of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland.