The European Union and six countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) finally signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on Friday (10 June) after more than a decade of talks – in a move that gives Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland duty-free access to the EU.
For South Africa, the sixth country in the SADC, its products will see improved preferential treatment over and above what is already covered by the existing bilateral EU-South Africa Trade and Development Cooperation Agreement into the EU market. In particular, the agreement increases the flexibility of Southern African producers to put together products from components from various countries, without the risk of losing their free access to the EU market.
The EPA is a development-oriented free trade agreement that takes into account the different levels of development of each partner nation. It is the  the first of its kind between the EU and an African region pursuing economic integration.
The agreement was signed by EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström, who said: “We want to base our trade relations with our partners in the Southern African region on commonly agreed, stable rules. Trade has helped lift millions of people from poverty throughout the years. Thanks to agreements like this one, we are preparing the ground for that process to continue.”
By signing the EPA, all participants commit themselves to act towards sustainable development and to uphold social and environmental standards. The agreement also establishes a consultation procedure for environmental or labour issues and defines a comprehensive list of areas in which the partners will cooperate to foster sustainable development.
The pact also paves the way for other regional agreements to be signed with West Africa and the East African Community.