Pretoria - Trade and Industry (dti) Minister Rob Davies is back in the country following his visit to France and Egypt.
In a statement on Sunday, the dti said that in France, the Minister attended an informal World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministers’ meeting on the sidelines of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Ministers’ meeting.
The WTO meeting was co-chaired by Australia and Kenya. The WTO Ministers’ Meeting discussed the post-Bali work programme and the upcoming 10th WTO Ministerial Council meeting that will take place in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2015.
Minister Davies also met with the South African and United States delegations who discussed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) poultry dispute on 4-5 June 2015 in Paris.
The two-day meeting was facilitated by the two governments with their respective industry associations, resulting in a breakthrough after several months of industry-to-industry negotiations.
The agreement will secure the continued participation of South Africa in the re-authorised 2015 AGOA that is being extended by the US Congress for a further 10 years.
According to the agreement, anti-dumping duties on a quota of 65 000 tonnes of US bone-in chicken imports into SA will be rebated 100% on an annual basis. The US bone-in chicken imports will still be liable for MFN (Most Favoured Nations) duties. The agreement will also open new opportunities for the historically disadvantaged individuals (HDIs).
In Egypt, Minister Davies led the South African delegation at the 3rd Summit of the Tripartite in Sharm el-Sheikh. The Summit launched the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) on 10 June 2015.
Minister Davies reiterates that the launch of the TFTA is an important milestone in the implementation of the development integration agenda in Africa, aimed at promoting market integration, industrial and infrastructure development.
“The establishment of the TFTA is not only a political vision but makes business sense. The creation of larger markets with greater critical mass will not only enhance the African investment proposition, it is also the only way Africa will compete effectively in the global economy.” - SAnews.gov.za
