Brussels, 17/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - As part of his tour of southern Africa, European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht visited Namibia on Tuesday 16 July, where he met Namibia's Minister for Trade Calle Schlettwein. De Gucht pledged to “bring the negotiations on an EPA to conclusion as soon as possible”, saying that the conclusion of an economic partnership agreement (EPA) was essential for trade relations between the EU and Namibia.
In ten years, EU-Namibia trade has increased by 200%. “During all that time, Namibia has had a solid trade surplus with the EU”, De Gucht said. In 2012, bilateral trade was worth €2 billion. Namibia currently enjoys free access to the EU market for all its products, be they industrial or agricultural. However, this regime is based on a temporary instrument which will end on 1 October 2014. “After this date, Namibia would not be eligible for preferential treatment (…) unless, it has ratified an economic partnership agreement”, De Gucht states.
One of the big issues for the EU-South Africa summit on Thursday 18 July will be the progress on negotiations for a regional EPA between the EU and the South African Development Community (SADC) - Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland. With the exception of South Africa, these countries concluded a provisional EPA with the EU in 2009.
Namibia's signature remains up in the air, however, as Namibia shares South Africa's reservations on issues such as rules of origin, the protection of small industries (Namibia wants to see these excluded from the field of liberalisation), and the most favoured nation clause (which Namibia and South Africa fear may hinder their relations with other important economic partners). The agricultural chapter and market access also pose a problem.
The next round of the regional EPA negotiations is due to begin in September. “The EU has already shown that we are ready to adjust our offer in a balanced manner that should reflect major Namibian interests”, De Gucht stated. The EU has said, for example, that it is ready to offer full free access to its market, and to discuss Namibian requests for derogations from rules of origin for the benefit of the agricultural and fishing industry. (LM/transl.fl)