SA concludes trade deal with UK in case of no-deal Brexit

News24
11 Sep 2019, 23:43 GMT+10

South Africa has concluded a new trade deal with the UK, which will kick in if Britain leaves the European Union without an trade agreement.

The UK is set to leave the EU on October 31, and no trade deal currently exists between the two. While UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed no not seek another extension, the UK Parliament has passed a law compelling him to seek a further delay if no departure deal has been concluded.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, told reporters on Wednesday in Cape Town that SA and five other countries in the southern African region had clinched a deal that would give the African states a soft landing in case of a no-deal Brexit.

The other countries are Lesotho, eSwatini, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique.

The new agreement will be know as the SACUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement, said Patel. He said it would effectively "rollover and replicate the terms of trade" that govern the current trade agreement between South African and the European Union in terms of tariffs, quotas, rules of origin, and health and safety regulations.

The UK is one of SA's largest trading partners, with bilateral trade of about R140bn in 2018.

UK International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, said in a statement: "This trade agreement, once it is signed and takes effect, will allow businesses to keep trading after Brexit without any additional barriers".

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Cape Town Express.

More Information

23 ℃

Fair / Windy in Cape Town

International

Section

How dealer and player swindled Maryland casino

BALTIMORE, Maryland - After just a few hours of playing baccarat at a Maryland casino in September 2017, Chenguang Ni ...

Lower expenses and low debt highlights of New Zealand financial report

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - The New Zealand government's books are in good shape with the accounts in surplus and expenses ...

U.S. government report concludes White House violated law

WASHINGTON, DC - On the eve of U.S. President Donald Trump's impeachment trial a damning new government watchdog report has ...

Way paved for Donald Trump impeachment trial to begin

WASHINGTON, DC - The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump began Thursday with preliminary proceedings, including House lawmakers who ...

Weinstein defense team renews push for new trial venue

NEW YORK, New York - American film producer Harvey Weinstein's defence team has asked for a change in the venue ...

Colombian activists deaths rose nearly 50% last year to well over 100

GENEVA, Switzerland - More than 100 human rights workers have been killed in Colombia in the last year, a figure ...

South Africa

Section