On Monday 16 October, Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström began a two-day visit to South Africa to celebrate the first anniversary of provisional implementation of the economic partnership agreement (EPA) between the EU and the six countries of the Southern African Development Community (South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland).
At a civil society forum in Johannesburg, Malmström was due to take stock with ministers of the countries of the region and representatives of more than 150 civil society organisations of the first year of the agreement, which came into effect on 10 October 2016 (see EUROPE 11642).
Under the terms of the agreement, the southern African countries have to remove customs duties on 86% of imports from the EU (Mozambique 74%) over ten years. Agricultural and fisheries products are excepted from the agreement.
The EPA also contains a bilateral EU-South Africa protocol on protecting geographical indications (GIs) and the trade in wines and spirits. The EU gives protection to names such as the caffeine-free tea Rooibos and wines such as Stellenbosch and Paarl, and South Africa, in return, protects more than 250 EU GIs ranging from foodstuffs to wines and spirits.
During her visit, Malmström was due to hold bilateral talks with South African Trade Minister Rob Davies to discuss trade policy and the implementation of the EPA.
Also on the commissioner’s schedule is a visit to Liliesleaf Farm, a site of historical importance in the political struggle against apartheid, followed by a showcase of South African regional products to celebrate World Food Day. She will also visit an organic farm managed by a young black female entrepreneur who intends to make use of the EPA to export certified organic agricultural products to Europe. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)