Unfortunately they are so complex that they defy simple categorisation. The secretariat shall coordinate and assist in the negotiation of trade agreements with third parties. South africa and the southern african customs union. The sacu agreement of 2002 has a section which deals. The new southern african customs union agreement africa region working paper series no. While the union has operated under different agreements, which have been negotiated and renegotiated with changing circumstances, the study identifies the. Customs union matters of 11 november 1994, mandating the governments to re negotiate the 1969 southern african customs union agreement. A new southern african customs union agreement 2002. In december 2004, mercosur and the southern african customs union sacu composed of botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa and swaziland. Negotiations to launch a free trade agreement fta between the united states and the five members of the southern african customs union sacu botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa, and swaziland began on june 3, 2003. A protocol for the establishment of the east african community customs union was signed by the three east african heads of state on 2 march 2004 in arusha, tanzania. The customs union is the first regional integration milestone and critical foundation of the east african community eac, which has been in force since 2005, as defined in article 75 of the treaty for the establishment of the east african community. The southern african customs union sacu consists of botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa, and. In sadc, the member states have entered into an agreement to phase out all tariffs to zero by 2012.
A potential fta would eliminate tariffs over time, reduce or eliminate nontariff barriers, liberalize service trade, protect intellectual property rights, and provide. Welcome to the sacu website southern african customs union. Established in 1910 to serve british colonial interests and, after 1948, the interests of the apartheid regime. Agreement establishing the african continental free trade area preamble we, member states of the african union, desirous to implement the decision of the assembly of heads of state and government during its eighteenth ordinary session held in addis ababa, ethiopia from 29th30th january, 2012 assemblyaudec. Southern african customs union sacu botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa, and swaziland southern african customs union sacu botswana, lesotho, namibia, south. Southern african customs union wikipedia, ensaeklopedia. Bilateral and regional trade agreements edited by simon lester. It provides for further harmonization of policies in a number of areas, including customs procedures, standards, technical regulations, sps measures, competition, and unfair trade practices, but alignment in these areas has not. United statessouthern african customs union sacu free. Southern african customs union agreement 2002 as amended on 12 april 20 26 apr 2016. Status of agreements concluded by the southern african customs union sacu states.
An important initiative under negotiation is the indiasouthern africa customs union preferential trade agreement. Southern african customs union sacu sacu tralac trade law. The new sacu agreement sacu is the worlds oldest customs union. Southern african customs union agreement 2002 sacu. The roles of the southern african customs union agreement.
Sacu customs and excise act, 1964 description schedule no. Southern african customs union sacu agreement of 2002 to. A perspective on common industrial policies for the member states of the southern african customs union tralac working paper swp0120 author. Established in 1910 to serve british colonial interests and, after. A perspective on common industrial policies for the member.
South africa was a signatory member of the southern african customs union sacu, which was the worlds oldest customs union since 1910. Tensions over the future of the southern african customs union sacu and trade relations with the eu are rising, as reflected in the plethora of recent media reports. Department of commerce and industry, pretoria, 30th july 1910. Association southern african customs union free trade agreement. The 1969 customs union agreement between south africa, botswana. Agreement on the need to these has been reached amongst the stakeholders, the heads of governments of member states signed the new sacu agreement on 21 october 2002 in botswana. The authors sought to find out whether the southern african customs union sacu. Customs duties are paid against a prescribed form sad 500, which is a declaration form, formally known as a bill of entry. United statessouthern african customs union sacu free trade agreement negotiations. The southern african customs union sacu is a customs union among five countries of. The southern african customs union sacu was established in 1910 through the customs union agreement of 1910 between the union of south africa and the three socalled high commission territories of bechuanaland now botswana, basutoland now lesotho and swaziland. The most difficult problem concerns the future of revenue distribution within sacu.
Its headquarters are in the namibian capital, windhoek. Botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa and swaziland, with a downward trend in their consolidated total gdp growth rates. It entered into force on the 1st of march 1970, thereby replacing the customs union agreement of 1910. European free trade associationsouthern african customs union. These tradediverting effects benefited south african manufacturers. Aware that the implementation of the 1969 agreement is hampered by a lack of. However, similar to the 1910 agreement, south africa retained the sole decisionmaking power over customs and excise policies. Trevor manual, in his opening remarks raised the contentious issues that had to be. A new southern african customs union agreement the 2002 sacu agreement entered into force on 15 july 2004. Following the 199798 asian financial crisis and the contagion evident around the region, adb was asked to use its knowledgebased expertise to help monitor the recovery and report objectively on potential vulnerabilities and policy solutions. Au african union auc african union commission comesa common market for eastern and southern africa. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the funder, ersa or the authors affiliated. This handbook is published by the african union au in partnership with the new zealand government, publisher of the annual united nations handbook for more than 50 years.
The interim economic partnership agreements between the eu and african states contents, challenges and prospects edited by sanoussi bilal and christopher stevens. Preferential trade agreement between the common market of the south mercosur and the southern african customs union sacu. The asia regional integration center aric is an ongoing technical assistance project of the economic research and regional cooperation department ercd. Southern african customs union presented by ms xolelwa mlumbipeter. The following government notice is for general information.
Senior officials from six countries botswana, eswatini, lesotho, mozambique, namibia and south africa of the southern african development community sadc and the european union held the 6th meeting of the trade and development committee tdc under the economic partnership agreement epa on 1920 february in brussels. Sacu e hlomilwe ka 1910 e le tumelano magareng ga union ya afrika borwa, le high commission territories ya bechuanaland, basutoland le swaziland. The interim economic partnership agreements between the. Pdf comparative advantage in the southern africa customs. This new agreement replaces the current agreement of. Peoples republic of chinasouthern african customs union. The southern african customs union came into existence on 11 december 1969 with the signature of the customs union agreement between south africa, botswana, lesotho, namibia and swaziland. Economic research southern africa ersa is a research programme funded by the national treasury of south africa.
Document wttprg324 contains the policy statement submitted by the southern african customs union. The african setting and the rationale of integration 318 3. The southern african customs union sacu is a customs union among five countries of southern africa. The fifth stage would see the establishment of an african common market. An international union which allows tarifffree trade between member nations, established a common tariff for all imported goods to member nations from nonmember nations, pools the tariffs into a revenue sharing pool and then distributes a proportional share of revenues to each entity. A new southern african customs union agreement 2002 6163 9.
Nafta north american free trade agreement oda official development assistance oecd organisation for economic cooperation and development risdp regional indicative development plan rsa republic of south africa sacu southern african customs union sadc southern african development community. Colin mccarthy 1 introduction the southern african customs union sacu is a customs union, as defined by having regional free trade behind a common external tariff cet. Food and agricultural organization of the united nations. Botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa and eswatini formerly swaziland. Industrial policy in the southern african institute for. An analysis of a ussouthern african customs union sacu. The southern african customs union sacu includes of south africa, lesotho, swaziland, botswana, and namibia. Congressional research service, the library of congress, crs report for congress, january 3.
The southern african custom union sacu regional cooperation framework on. Southern african customs union sacu trade summary the u. In general, goods imported into botswana from outside the southern african customs union sacu botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa, and eswatini attract customs duties at rates outlined in the customs tariff book. Revenue distribution under the new agreement 6473 10. Wttpr s324 southern african customs union 4 summary 1. The sacu agreement was then renegotiated and signed in. Articles 40 and 41 of the sacu agreement among the five member states botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa and swaziland.