African customs union agreement of 2002, which was signed by the heads of state or their representatives on 21 october 20023 and promulgated as part of south african municipal law on 2 july 2004. Among the other tarifffree imports of south african goods listed in the agreement are citrus, grapes, plums and wine, as well as machinery, textiles and clothing, tea, beef, fresh fruit, fish and nuts. The 1969 customs union agreement between south africa, botswana, lesotho and swaziland replaced the 1910 agreement. Namibia, botswana, swaziland, south africa, and lesotho 2015 2016, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Host agreement between commission of the african union. This agreement has been enacted into south africa law in terms of the customs and excise act, 1964 by publication in notice r1288 gg 40356 of 21 october 2016 and. Matters of international trade are increasingly widely recognised as major shapers of global politics. Free trade agreement between the efta states and the sacu states. Agreement between the government of the republic of south africa and the government of the united states of america regarding mutual assistance between their customs administrations part 4 southern african customs union agreement between the governments of the republic of botswana, the kingdom of lesotho, the republic of namibia, the republic. Oxfam, and actup paris letter to president bush requesting that ip be excluded from the ussacu free trade agreement. This chapter, by south africas xavier carim, focuses on the anatomy of the negotiating process for an economic partnership agreement epa between the european union eu and the southern african development community sadc epa group from a south african perspective. Developments in the global customs environment under the auspices of the dialogue facility of the trade, development and cooperation agreement tdca, the south african customs cooperated with the eu on key aspects of customs administration during 20 and 2014.
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. To date, the only member state that has not yet ratified, is south africa. The current sacu agreement replaced the 1969 sacu agreement, which was concluded on 11 december 1969 between the governments of botswana, lesotho, south africa and swaziland, and was later acceded to by namibia. Statistical rear book, 1968 pretoria and foreign trade statistics pretoria, vol. This agreement allows for 99% of sa goods to enter the uk. Schedules to the customs and excise act, 1964 tariff book. Africas big new free trade agreement, explained the. Support for southern african sugar producers came in the form of preferential access to the southern african customs union sacu, which is made up of botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa and swaziland. South africas trade relations with the eu are governed by the trade, development and cooperation agreement concluded with the eu in 1999.
China, the us and germany are the major trading partners of sacu, both as importers and exporters. It entered into force on the 1st of march 1970, thereby replacing the customs union agreement of 1910. The efta states signed a free trade agreement with the southern african customs union sacu in hofn, iceland, on 26 june 2006. Sacu customs and excise act, 1964 description schedule no. Background rollover agreement ministerial discussion on 19 march 2017 in johannesburg agreed that the eusadc epa be rolledoverinto a standalone agreement between the southern african customs union sacu, mozambique and the uk. Southern african customs union sacu sacu tralac trade law.
Agreement between the government of the republic of south africa and the government of. African regional trade agreements as legal regimes by james. Bearing in mind the decision of the ministers responsible for southern african customs union matters of 11 november 1994, mandating the governments. Sacu was established in 1910, making it the worlds oldest surviving customs union and some 40 years senior to europes trade bloc.
These tradediverting effects benefited south african manufacturers. The study further explores the appeal system available to. African customary law, customs, and womens rights muna ndulo abstract the sources of law in most african countries are customary law, the common law and legislation both colonial and postindependence. Unfortunately they are so complex that they defy simple categorisation. The longdelayed wines and spirits agreement between south africa and the european union eu is expected to go through very soon. Welcome to the sacu website southern african customs union.
Since then there had been technical exchanges, but slow progress due to south africas mandate to include the rest of the southern african customs union sacu members in the agreement. The southern african customs union sacu agreement signed in 2002 purported to change the predominance of south african power within the institution to give other member states greater. Its headquarters are in the namibian capital, windhoek. The sugar agreement annex vii includes measures intended to increase cooperation and support for regional sugar producers. Bilateral and regional trade agreements edited by simon lester. South african customs union free trade agreement march 1, 2006. 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. Southern african customs union sacus trade and tariff. Gaborone, june 25 xinhua the southern african customs union sacu, mozambique and the european union have started talks to conclude a new economic partnership agreement epa with postbrexit britain. The following customs agreement between the government of the union of south african and the territories of basutoland, swaziland, and bechuanaland protectorate is published for general information. Enter the dragon saiia the south african institute. Southern african customs union sacu botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa, and swaziland southern african customs union sacu botswana, lesotho, namibia, south.
The roles of the southern african customs union agreement. Jan 17, 2017 by definition, a customs union is an agreement between countries to embrace tarifffree trade between members but impose common tariffs on goods imported from nonmembers. Revenue sharing in the southern african customs union sacu. Only local taxes, such as value added tax, are levied on goods imported into botswana or exports at. The agreement covers trade in goods and lays the foundation for a further engagement of the parties with regard to intellectual property, investment, trade in services. A new southern african customs union agreement 2002. Given chinas growing economic power, this initiative has farreaching implications, each of which must be carefully considered. It is a partial form of economic integration that offers an intermediate step between freetrade zones which allow mutual free trade. Association southern african customs union free trade agreement. The south african regime is compared with certain foreign and international customs penalty regimes in this case, canada, the united states of america and the european union. For south africa in particular, the rest of africa has become a very important export destination. This agreement brings together all 55 member states of the african union, covering a market of more than 1.
However, similar to the 1910 agreement, south africa retained the sole decisionmaking power over customs and excise policies. This dissertation focuses on customs penalty regime as utilised by south africa. Its members include botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa, and swaziland. Preferential trade agreement between the common market of the south mercosur and the southern african customs union sacu. Developments in the global customs environment south africa. There is established the southern african customs union. When sacu emerged it was an organization within the british empire, and it can therefore be considered a case of holdingtogether regionalism in line with chapter 3 of this book. 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. European free trade associationsouthern african customs union. A customs union has the capacity to form a distinct legal personality both for its institutions and for its territory in respect of international trade agreements, bilateral. South africa, while part of the african caribbean pacific group of countries, is not party to the same preferential trade arrangements granted to the african caribbean pacific countries under the cotonou agreement. At an eulevel, this means a common external tariff cet, a dizzying array of over 12,650 different taxes and some quotas to boot imposed on goods from the rest of the world.
The book also covers monetary unions as well as intraafrican regional integration, and examines free trade agreements with nonafrican regions including the economic partnership agreements with the. The graduate school of business university of cape town. Dec 14, 2018 the customs unions main imports from the rest of the world include valueadded manufactured products e. The most difficult problem concerns the future of revenue distribution within sacu. It is the strategic framework for delivering on africas goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the panafrican drive for unity, selfdetermination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under panafricanism and african. Given chinas growing economic power, this initiative has farreaching implications, each of. The southern african customs union sacu, an african regional economic organization, is the worlds oldest customs union, founded in 1910. The southern african customs union sacu is a customs union among five countries of southern africa.
The 1910 agreement both removed customs duties for internal trade in sacu and established a common customs tariff applied by all members. The oldest customs union in the world hails from africa. This document starts by identifying sectors that can drive the sacumercosur trade agreement. Southern african customs union agreement 2002 as amended on 12 april 20 26 apr 2016. South africa, the eu, and the sadc group economic partnership. Established by the customs union convention between the british colony of cape of. South african customs union, eu start talks on new economic partnership agreement with postbrexit britain. Recognising that the customs union agreement concluded on 11 december 1969 no longer adequately caters for the needs of a customs union in the 21st century and should therefore be aligned with current developments in international trade relations. Rwandan president paul kagame, chairman of the african union, signs the african continental free trade area agreement in kigali, rwanda, on.
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. The four brexit scenarios for south african exports. Botswana is a contracting member of the southern african customs union agreement hence, goods imported from or exported to south africa, namibia, lesotho and swaziland enjoys free movement without payment of customs duties or quantitative restrictions. The southern african customs union sacu is 103 years old. But despite this head start, intraafrican trade links are.
Customs union, a trade agreement by which a group of countries charges a common set of tariffs to the rest of the world while granting free trade among themselves. Trade with new friends, such as china and india, is growing. Institute for global dialogue south african institute of international affairs. The preferential trade agreement has been concluded between the member states of the common market of the south and the member states of the southern african customs union sacu. Botswana, lesotho, namibia, south africa and eswatini formerly swaziland. Intraafrican trade the road less travelled baobab the. The current free trade agreement fta proposals between the south african customs union sacu and common market of the south mercosur are the result fr. Boer republic in 1889, the southern african customs union was extended in 1910 to. Established on june 29, 1910 in southern africa the customs union agreement cua brought together the south african union, the high commission of bechuanaland territories current botswana, basutoland current lesotho and swaziland, then under british rule. Following the signing of the new agreement, member states committed themselves to ratifying it as a matter of urgency. Goods entered the south african market from eu in accordance with rates and tariffs that would be dropping over time. Itac was established through an act of parliament, the international trade administration act 71 of 2002, which came into force on 1. The 1969 southern african customs union agreement jstor. Customs tariff investigations, trade remedies and import and export control falls within the domain of the international trade administration commission of south africa itac.
The south centre south unity in diversity customs union. Blne get a significant share of their revenue from the customs component, whilst south africa gets more that 90% of its. The southern african customs union is the oldest customs union in the world, dating back to 1910. At the same sitting, the economic partnership agreements between the southern african customs union member states and mozambique was approved, as well as the united kingdom of great britain and. For south africa and the other members of the southern african customs union sacu, these african countries have become good friends. Evolution of the southern african customs union from 1903 to the present day based on southern african customs union. Mar 29, 2018 rwandan president paul kagame, chairman of the african union, signs the african continental free trade area agreement in kigali, rwanda, on march 21. South african customs union sacu countries and mozambique agreement reached in principle for economic partnership agreement with the uk other countries engaged in negotions for economic partnership agreements epa with the uk eastern and southern african esa countries, who have already signed their epa with the uk.
It was established in 1910 by the union of south africa and the territories of basutoland, swaziland, and the bechuanaland protectorate. Prof erasmus noted that the tdca was not in line with the logic of the customs union, nor was squared with article 24 of the general agreement on tariffs and trade gatt. Lennart petersson this book aims to analyze lesothos prospects for economic advancement, and examines the influence of the policies and economic development of south africa on lesothos own potential for development. The politics of trade in the era of hyperglobalisation. Revenue sharing in the southern african customs union sacu by talkmore chidede.
Host agreement between commission of the african union auc and south africa on material and technical organisation of summit on african diaspora. Lesotho, south africa, and swaziland signed a customs union agree ment. The republics of rwanda and burundi joined the customs union in 2008 and started applying its instruments in july 2009. Southern african customs union sacu european free trade. Agenda 2063 is the blueprint and master plan for transforming africa into the global powerhouse of the future. Southern african development community customs union. Amendments to the southern african customs union agreement, 2002, to institutionalise the sacu summit, 20. Customs tariff downloads customs and excise downloads. Southern african customs union sacu trade summary the u. In a typical african country, the great majority of the people conduct their personal activities in accordance with and subject to customary law.
Sacu is the oldest existing customs union in the world. Botswana 12 april 20 s botswana 04 december 20 entered into force on. Botswana, eswatini formerly swaziland, lesotho, namibia and south africa. This new agreement replaces the current agreement of 1969, which established the southern african customs union. Theoretically, each of the members of sacu could have suggested a change in this tariff, but in practice, it was unilaterally determined by south africa. This arrangement was codified in a 1910 southern african customs union agreement between the union of south africa and the then high commission territories of bechuanaland, basutoland and swaziland. Itac was established through an act of parliament, the international trade administration act 71 of 2002, w. The effects of a free trade agreement between the usa and the south african customs union sacu, centre of policy studiesimpact centre working papers g147, victoria university, centre of policy studiesimpact centre. The worlds oldest surviving customs unionthe southern african customs union saculocated in the southern tip of africa, has received little attention in the comparative integration literature. South african customs union, eu start talks on new. Free trade agreement in africa achieves ratification. Apr 05, 2019 this is a trade agreement between the eu on the one hand, and the southern african customs union sacu plus mozambique on the other hand. Article 31 stipulated that all trade agreements had to be entered into as a block, and this had delayed negotiations. South africa dominates sacus trade with the rest of the world.
Southern african customs union agreement 2002 sacu. South africa and its partners in the southern african customs union sacu botswana, lesotho, namibia, and swaziland are considering negotiating a free trade agreement with china. Celebrating its 100year anniversary in 2010, the sacu began with plutocratic structures and then switched to intergovernmental in 2004. Enter the dragon saiia the south african institute of. Part of the the statesmans yearbook book series sybk. The book also covers monetary unions as well as intraafrican regional integration, and examines free trade agreements with nonafrican regions including the economic partnership agreements with the european union. 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. African regional trade agreements as legal regimes by. South africa 21 october 2002 s south africa 15 june 2004 swaziland 21 october 2002 s swaziland 29 march 2004 2. Institute for global dialogue south african institute of international affairs this book represents the outcomes of a conference at which researchers, policymakers, and business representatives considered chinau2019s meteoric. The new southern african customs union agreement africa region working paper series no.
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