EPAs in Southern Africa

This policy brief seeks to highlight some of the developments in the process which led to the initialing of the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Of concern is the fact that South Africa is the noticeable non-signatory to the Interim EPA. Many discussions have been held on the progress of negotiations, but this brief focuses on highlighting the historical developments which led to EPA negotiations. More critically this brief highlights some key issues (especially on export growth and regional integration) that will shape the future development of trade and trade capacity in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region, more specifically within the SADC.