SACU to speak on EPA in one tone - by Toivo Ndjebela
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WINDHOEK – After months of varying views on the Economic Partnership Agreement, member states of the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU) have finally taken a “harmonised” position on the matter when the next round of negotiations with the European Commission (EC) starts.
This was agreed recently in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the Special Customs Union council of ministers’ meeting chaired by Namibian Finance Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
At the meeting, usually attended by the SACU ministers of finance or trade, the member states agreed to “regroup” before meeting the European Commission in the next negotiating round.
The idea of regrouping is aimed at developing a common negotiating position to all issues under discussion to ensure that the SACU spokesperson at the meeting can convey a harmonised negotiating message that member states can all be party to.
“Council also agreed that notification, ratification and implementation of the Interim EPA by those that have signed should not be prioritised unless progress is being made in addressing the internal and external unresolved negotiating issues that still exist,” reads a Cabinet statement on the matter.
“These include the alignment of market access tariff offers, rules of origin issues, safeguarding the agreement reached during the Swakopmund meeting, addressing the remaining unresolved negotiating issues and firm commitments from the EC with respect to the inclusive of these solutions in the final EPA,” the statement further reads.
The Johannesburg meeting, which took place on January 15, also agreed to change the strategic approach to focus more holistically on the negotiations towards the final EPA to ensure that all concerns regarding the Interim EPA are addressed as a matter of priority.
SACU says it would approach the EC in the negotiations towards the Final EPA with “renewed enthusiasm” and communicate its new strategic approach through an agreed letter sanctioned by the ministers of trade, to their EC counterparts.
“Council specifically agreed that SACU member states will send an agreed letter to the EC, signed by all SACU ministers of trade,” Cabinet said.
The council of ministers also agreed to increase the pace in resolving internal concerns such as the alignment of the Trade, Development and Cooperation (TDCA), existing between the European Union and South Africa, and the Interim EPA to pay more attention to the negotiation of a final EPA that would be beneficial to SACU members.
Probably being mindful of a possible breakdown in EPA negotiations, the council of ministers has also called for the strengthening of trade agreements that the customs union has with India and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), a Latin-based trade block comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
SACU and MERCOSUR concluded a preferential trade agreement in June 2008, aimed at promoting trade between the two blocs on a selected number of items.
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This was agreed recently in Johannesburg, South Africa, during the Special Customs Union council of ministers’ meeting chaired by Namibian Finance Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.
At the meeting, usually attended by the SACU ministers of finance or trade, the member states agreed to “regroup” before meeting the European Commission in the next negotiating round.
The idea of regrouping is aimed at developing a common negotiating position to all issues under discussion to ensure that the SACU spokesperson at the meeting can convey a harmonised negotiating message that member states can all be party to.
“Council also agreed that notification, ratification and implementation of the Interim EPA by those that have signed should not be prioritised unless progress is being made in addressing the internal and external unresolved negotiating issues that still exist,” reads a Cabinet statement on the matter.
“These include the alignment of market access tariff offers, rules of origin issues, safeguarding the agreement reached during the Swakopmund meeting, addressing the remaining unresolved negotiating issues and firm commitments from the EC with respect to the inclusive of these solutions in the final EPA,” the statement further reads.
The Johannesburg meeting, which took place on January 15, also agreed to change the strategic approach to focus more holistically on the negotiations towards the final EPA to ensure that all concerns regarding the Interim EPA are addressed as a matter of priority.
SACU says it would approach the EC in the negotiations towards the Final EPA with “renewed enthusiasm” and communicate its new strategic approach through an agreed letter sanctioned by the ministers of trade, to their EC counterparts.
“Council specifically agreed that SACU member states will send an agreed letter to the EC, signed by all SACU ministers of trade,” Cabinet said.
The council of ministers also agreed to increase the pace in resolving internal concerns such as the alignment of the Trade, Development and Cooperation (TDCA), existing between the European Union and South Africa, and the Interim EPA to pay more attention to the negotiation of a final EPA that would be beneficial to SACU members.
Probably being mindful of a possible breakdown in EPA negotiations, the council of ministers has also called for the strengthening of trade agreements that the customs union has with India and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), a Latin-based trade block comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
SACU and MERCOSUR concluded a preferential trade agreement in June 2008, aimed at promoting trade between the two blocs on a selected number of items.
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