Trade relations Minimize

Brief Market Studies for the first five economies in both EAC & COMESA
  
Wool export to China
South Africa will soon resume exporting raw wool to China after an agreement was reached on the issuing of health clearance certificates pertaining to rift valley fever (RVF).  Read more»
  
Customs Modernizing Programme
On 20 September 2011, SARS presented an outline of their modernisation project in Nedlac’s Teselico. Please see the attached presentation for details»
  
Preferential Procurement Regulations
At a meeting convened to discuss the implementation of the preferential procurement regulations, the dti reported the following products and sectors which were likely to be designated by 7 December 2011: Canned vegetables, Buses, Rolling stock, Power pylons, Set top boxes, Pharmaceuticals, Clothing, textiles, leather and footwear. Read more»
  
Notice for 2012 Export Permits
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) Info Bulletin for September 2011
- DAFF published notice for 2012 Export Permits on 16 September 2012
- UK Market Report - 3rd Quarter 2011
- Hong Kong International Wine % Spirit Competition
Download bulletin»
  
Export opportunities to China for maize, wine and aquaculture
A Chinese delegation from All-China Federation of Supply and Marketing Co-operatives (ACFSMC) indicated that they are committed to engage in business engagements with South African co-operatives/agribusiness producing maize, aquaculture and wine. Co-operatives/agribusiness who are interested in entering into business engagements to export to China can click here for more information»
  
Wine Exports to China
Exports to China
WOSA Export Enquiry Newsletter, 10 August 2011

Jun Feng Trading Co. is currently importing South African wines into China and is interested in expanding their current portfolio. They are interested in listing a Pinotage and Sauvignon Blanc both of which should have a USD FOB price of equal or less than $3.00 per bottle. Read more»
  
Zambia Country Profile

The Joint Agribusiness Department of Agriculture Forum for Africa (JADAFA) through the Agricultural Business Chamber (ABC) commissioned the study on Agriculture and Agro-industrial Investments in Africa: Case Study of Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to identify and draw lessons from those elements of policy reform and successful practice in the three countries that may be helpful in informing agribusiness decisions as well as articulating the context in which future investments to the agriculture and agro-industrial sector could take place. The country case studies are also intended to construct comprehensive information that could guide the policy makers, private sector and development practitioners on how to turn potential investments into the actual.  Please click here to download the Zambia Country Profile»

  
Co-operatives can potentially benefit from MoU with BRICS Co-operatives
The dti, 21 July 2011
After the signing of the BRICS MoU's, representatives from co-operatives in China signed commercial contracts with co-operatives in Brazil, Russia and India to the value of 18.7 billion RMB. There is thus potential for real commercial benefits for co-operatives in South Africa flowing from this arrangement. The All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Co-operatives (China Co-op) will be sending a delegation to South Africa during the first week of September 2011 to explore opportunities for cooperation with Co-operatives in South Africa. The Russian Co-operative movement has also expressed interest and it is possible that a delegation from Russia will also visit soon. Please click here for a copy of the MoU, SA signed with BRICS Co-operatives»
  
Export Taxes
BUSA Position on Export Taxes
2011-07-28
The dti recently submitted a Concept Paper on Export Taxes to NEDLAC for consultation with the social partners. Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) has, after considerable consultation and debate, tabled its final position on export taxes at NEDLAC. Given that many members of the ABC are in the business of exporting agricultural products, and that agricultural exports are in excess of R40 billion per annum and constitute in the region of 8% of all exports, the ABC was fully involved in these debates and our position is well represented in BUSA’s submission. Please click here to peruse the document.
  
Financial Assistance (Incentives)
The dti provides financial support to qualifying companies in various sectors of the economy. Financial support is offered for various economic activities, including manufacturing, business competitiveness, export development and market access, as well as foreign direct investment. Please find attached information on Section 12i Tax Allowance Incentive (12i) TAI.

DTI List of Available incentives (2011-05-13)
Industrial Policy Projects: Section 12 - I : Application form
India request list
12-I Brownfield Projects
12-I Points and Brownfield Calculator Master (2010-12-07)

Training schedule
1. INDUSTRIAL POLICY PROJECTS (IPP 12-I)
 
  
Trade relations between SA and China
For a list of products that were proposed by South Africa to China for better market access in 2008, please click here»

 
  
Bans imposed on SA by trade partners due to Foot and Mouth Disease in Febr 2011
  
Draft Modalities for agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
  
Ukraine commitments in agriculture
Ukraine had taken certain commitments in agriculture aimed at simplifying market access and the further liberalization of trade in this sector.  Download the communication, dated 20 September 2010, being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Ukraine.
  
International Training Programme on Cluster Development in India
  
Japanese Government and Business Joint Mission to visit South Africa
The ABC has been invited to attend a reception on Saturday 28, August 2010 to be co-hosted by Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and a visiting Japanese Government and Business Joint Mission for Trade and Investment. Read more 
  
Trade Agreements
  
SADC Trade Protocol
Draft discussion document on 2010 audit of the implementation of the SADC Protocol on trade. This daft document was submitted to  SADC Secretariat in July 2010. Click to download.
  
Infant industry protection
The SACU secretariat presented a report on the guidelines for infant industry protection.
Click here to download the proposed SACU guidelines on the implementation of infant industry protection.
  
Food miles / Carbon miles

Food miles are simply the distance foodstuffs travel from the farm gate to the consumer. This has a significant impact on goods traded internationally. The miles also increase due to longer supply chains.

Due to fossil fuel usage during distribution and transportation, a direct correlation has been assumed between distance traveled and carbon emissions. Therefore also called carbon miles.

A presentation on the "Carbon footprint and the wine industry" was presented by Jacques Rossouw, Environmental manager at Distell, at the Agricultural Trade Forum - please click here to download presentation
  
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Co-operation

The recent Agricultural Business Chamber (ABC) congress has attracted international dignitaries like the Ambassador of United Arab Emirates (UAE), Messrs Al Hossani. The UAE is already thinking ahead in terms of food security and is looking at countries where it could invest in agriculture for its future needs.  Read more...

  
Statutory Measures in SA vs Australia
The NAMC compared the Statutory Measures applicable in SA and Australia in terms of legislation, roles of the NAMC/LRS, size of agricultural sectors, the application process, levy principals and guidelines, level of support, referendums, defaulters/legal action, extend of levies and allocation of levies.  Click here to download interesting facts and figures with regards to Statutory Measures in SA compared to Australia
  
Amending Agreement on TDCA
South Africa's trade relations and development co-operation with the EU are governed by the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA), which was signed in 1999. The TDCA's ratification is still ongoing and the agreement is being provisionally applied.  The Department International Relations & Co-operation's briefing to the Select Committee on Trade and International Relations regarding the Amending Agreement to the TDCA, on 5 May 2010 is available to download.
  
MoU between SA and US

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) laying out a framework for a Strategic Dialogue between South Africa and the United States on 14 April 2010, in Washington, D.C. The Strategic Dialogue will reinforce cooperation in key areas, such as health, education, food security, law enforcement, trade, investment and energy.
Click here to download MoU
  
SA Trade Policy Review Process

Responses from South Africa on questions posed by the World Trade Organisation member states (focused on agriculture). The TPR documents are very large, therefore the shorter version – not comprehensive – only gives an indication of the type of questions posed in the TPR process.  Click here to download a short version of the TPR documents
  
List of MoU’s Signed by South Africa

The South African Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with other countries between periods: 1994-2006
.  Click here to download a list of MoU's
  
Update from Government on meeting of SACU Member States

The Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) met on the 15th and 16th July 2010 in Pretoria, to reflect on the achievements and challenges, as well as to deliberate on the future strategic direction of SACU, in view of recent regional and global developments. Read more

 

  
Export of agricultural products
Permit applications to export agricultural products
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has put out a press release  regarding an invitation for permit applications to export agricultural products to the European market. Exporters, please urgently see press release. Click to download