THE sugar‚ wine and ethanol export industries have been given a potentially significant boost by the economic partnership agreement (EPA) signed last week between the European Union (EU) on the one hand and South Africa and its African partners on the other.
Carim said the big gain made by the EU in the negotiations was to get recognition for its geographic indicators‚ which will protect the names of goods like wines‚ specialist meats‚ and cheese. South African products‚ including some of its wines‚ would also be recognised in the EU. The agreement reached will not affect product names currently being used by producers in South Africa.
“The EPA rules of origin improve on the TDCA as they will facilitate intraregional trade and industrialisation across southern and eastern Africa in particular‚” the department said in a statement.
The new rules also contain provisions that will encourage South African clothing exports. Several other restrictive trade rules under the TDCA have been eased under the EPA. According to the Department of Trade and Industry the EPA provides “a degree of greater flexibility” than the TDCA to deploy export taxes on eight products for 12 years‚ with some exception for exports to the EU.
In addition‚ an agreement that the EU would eliminate export subsidies on agricultural goods destined to the Southern African Customs Union‚ as well as more effective safeguards to address damaging surges of imports‚ was obtained. — BDLive
Deal boost for SA industries
Carim said the big gain made by the EU in the negotiations was to get recognition for its geographic indicators‚ which will protect the names of goods like wines‚ specialist meats‚ and cheese. South African products‚ including some of its wines‚ would also be recognised in the EU. The agreement reached will not affect product names currently being used by producers in South Africa.
“The EPA rules of origin improve on the TDCA as they will facilitate intraregional trade and industrialisation across southern and eastern Africa in particular‚” the department said in a statement.
The new rules also contain provisions that will encourage South African clothing exports. Several other restrictive trade rules under the TDCA have been eased under the EPA. According to the Department of Trade and Industry the EPA provides “a degree of greater flexibility” than the TDCA to deploy export taxes on eight products for 12 years‚ with some exception for exports to the EU.
In addition‚ an agreement that the EU would eliminate export subsidies on agricultural goods destined to the Southern African Customs Union‚ as well as more effective safeguards to address damaging surges of imports‚ was obtained. — BDLive
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