Trade Liberalization
Over the past decade, SADC Member States have achieved significant reductions in tariff barriers within the region. By 2012, essentially all intra-SADC trade will be duty free. Moving forward, in addition to consolidating the gains of the FTA, SADC is embarked on an increasingly ambitious agenda which includes the establishment of the Tripartite FTA, a SADC Customs Union and eventually a SADC Common Market. SATH advisors will work to support SADC across these initiatives.
We will be working specifically in three sub-areas:
- Effective Implementation of the FTA
- Successful Implementation of the Tripartite Summit Agreement
- Increased Capacity of Member States to Engage in Trade Negotiations and Implement Trade Agreements
In March, SATH launched desk research and country missions towards the 2012 Audit of the Implementation of the SADC Protocol on Trade. For the 2012 Audit – the sixth of its kind – the SADC Secretariat requested SATH to carry out a comprehensive Audit, as this year marks the final year of tariff phase downs and final assessment by SATH.
From March 12-13, SATH presented on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Rules of Origin (ROO) during a workshop organized by the Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority (SIPA). The first day, focusing on AGOA, drew 26 companies and 14 officials from the United States Government (USG), SIPA, Swaziland Government departments and the media.
On February 16, SATH conducted a Rules of Origin (RoO) Training Workshop for twenty officials from the DIA, the Attorney General's Chambers as well as the Department of International Trade (DIT) at the request of the Botswana Department of Industrial Affairs (DIA).
A Single Window is a crucial instrument for eliminating inefficiency and ineffectiveness in business and government procedures and document requirements along the international supply chain, reducing trade transaction costs, as well as improving border control, compliance and security. To support Botswana's commitment to improving its Doing Business ranking, SATH arranged for a team from Mozambique to share its experience in implementing an Single Electronic Window at its borders with private sector and government stakeholders. As a result, the Botswana Commissioner of Customs and Excise, on behalf of all stakeholders, confirmed that Botswana will now move forward with the development and implementation of the Single Electronic Window.
Activities