EPA CMT

SADC EPA trade in services agenda involves the participation of the EC on one hand and four Participating SADC EPA States, namely: Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland. Angola, Namibia and South Africa participate only as observers. Negotiations to liberalise the services sector is premised on an objective to enhance and further develop trade in services between the two parties in a manner which supports regional integration and sustainable development of the SADC EPA States and ensures their smooth and gradual integration in the world economy.  In recognition of the imbalances in the levels of development between the two parties, the negotiations lay down the necessary arrangements for the progressive, reciprocal and asymmetric liberalization of trade in services.

The SADC-EC EPA Services negotiations were commenced in May/June 2008 in Brussels, where the EC submitted its Draft Text on Services for consideration by SADC EPA Group. After seeking clarification on the EC Services Text, the SADC EPA States drew their own Services text, which was exchanged with the EC in September 2011. A first joint reading of the two texts was undertaken during the Joint Technical Working Group on Services and Investment in November 2011, which revealed a high degree of convergence on most issues, especially on the underlying principle of development.  Work is ongoing to address divergent areas, with a view to draw a joint text which will form the basis for development of a Trade in Services Chapter of the SADC-EC Economic Partnership Agreement. It is expected that a parallel process to prepare for scheduling will be commenced soon, ahead of the December 2014 deadline for completion of the services and investment negotiations.

Records of EPA CMT

This section contains information for EPA CMT members. You need to login using the login box on the right to access the information. Usernames and passwords for this section have been allocated to authorised users only.