“Time is not on our side,” EU Trade Commissioner tells SADC
“Time is not on our side,” wrote the EU Trade Commissioner to SADC Trade Ministers at the end of March 2009, following their joint meeting days earlier. During their meeting, agreement, in principle, was reached on most of the main concerns expressed by South Africa, Namibia, and Angola (i.e., quantitative restrictions, special treatment for Lesotho, food security, free circulation of goods, infant industry, export taxes). Here too, the European Commission proposed that the two remaining outstanding issues—identification of parties and the most favoured nation clause—be discussed in the framework of the negotiations towards a final EPA.
She recalled the urgency of signing the interim EPA and she called on Ministers to agree with the European Commission proposal on the way forward in order to sign the interim EPA, notify the WTO, and advance negotiations on the final EPA. SADC officials note, however, that concerns remain within the region about the impact of notifying the interim EPA to the WTO before concluding the full EPA. They are particularly concerned with losing negotiating power on contentious issues and tariff re-alignments within the region. Political level follow-up continues on both sides to discuss how to move forward and how to perhaps implement a SADC EPA without South Africa while not undermining the SACU Common External Tariff.
It seems the IEPA may be signed without South Africa, especially if rumours are confirmed that Namibia appears to have been swayed and is now leaning towards putting its signature under the IEPA. At the moment, a date for the signature of the SADC interim EPA is not yet confirmed. Technically, it could be as early as May if the SADC group gives their agreement in the coming days.
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