... SACU SHOWS STRONG RECOVERY AFTER COVID-19 PANDEMIC

EZULWINI - Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Finance Sizakele Dlamini says the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) member States have shown strong recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Dlamini made this remarks during the 70th meeting of the SACU Finance and Audit Committee (FAC) meeting held at Happy Valley Hotel on Friday. She said as Eswatini they were pleased to host the first physical meeting of the FAC post the emergence of COVID-19. She applauded all the FAC members for their efforts put to ensure that the business of SACU continued even during the most difficult times of the pandemic. Dlamini noted that this meeting of the FAC was taking place when Eswatini was preparing for the elections as the term of the current Parliament, which entered into office in 2018 was coming to an end. “We are at the stage where we have concluded registration for the elections and the process will be concluded in the coming months,” said Dlamini.

Time

On a lighter note, the PS welcomed the delegates to Eswatini and urged them to allocate time during or after the meeting to tour country and experience the warmth of emaSwati. Meanwhile, PS in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade Siboniso Nkambule welcomed the SACU Senior Trade Officials (STOs). Nkambule then chaired the meeting of the officials as he is the current Chairperson of the SACU senior trade officials. In his remarks, Nkambule said yesterday’s meeting was unique, in that it was taking place just two months after the senior trade officials had an opportunity to reflect on their trade agenda for the year during the strategic meeting held in Windhoek, Namibia, in April 2023. “This Meeting is also preceding the SACU Statutory Organs, which means that the outcome of this meeting will feed into the agenda for the SACU Commission, scheduled to take place over the next few days, followed by the Council of Ministers and culminate into the Summit of Heads of States or Governments,” said Nkambule.

Issues

He said it was, therefore, critical that while they discuss issues on the agenda, they also be mindful of the strategic issues that needed to be brought to the attention of these institutions, either for their appreciation, guidance or adoption. Nkambule said regarding their programme for yesterday, it was worth noting that their agenda covered only five substantive agenda items. “These include the consideration of issues under the three trade agreements,” said Nkambule. He highlighted that on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) issues, the STOs were expected to receive an update on the status of the SACU Provisional Schedule of Tariff Concession to the AfCFTA and determine the way forward to facilitate its implementation. PS Nkambule said in the same vein, the STOs would also consider the outstanding work on sensitive products and exclusion list, with a view to commence regional consultations in developing a SACU common offer and provide guidance on the approach on the negotiations regarding bilateral negotiations.

He mentioned that regarding the implementation of the European Union –Southern Africa Development Community Economic Partnership Agreement (EU-SADC -EPA) and Southern Africa Customs Union and Mozambique – United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement (SACUM-UK EPA), they would receive a report from the Technical Experts in relation to the draft Guidelines for imposition of the Agricultural Safeguard Measure under Article 35 of the EU-SADC EPA. He said they would also receive the rules of procedure for the SACUM-UK Joint Council on Trade and Development Committee as well as the Draft Decision on the Multilateral Safeguard under the SACUM-UK EPA, which they would consider with the aim to finalising and recommending to the commission.

Review

“Moreover, we will receive an update on the review of the EU-SADC EPA,” said Nkambule. The PS said as STOs they also needed to reflect on whether the moratorium on new trade negotiations between SACU and third parties was still necessary. He said perhaps they could recommend a council’s reconsideration to allow SACU to commence engagement with new trading partners, considering the current trade agenda.

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