The 2008 SADC Summit set a number of goals intended to address these challenges,
including the expansion of markets, achieving economies of scale, and enhancing
competitiveness as a platform to participle in the global economy. The following were part of
the plan:
To eliminate tariffs and trade barriers among member states.
President Zuma actively champions the North-South Corridor initiative and South
Africa also supports the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA).
South Africa proposed the establishment of the BRICS Development Bank which has
been accepted by the BRICS members to address infrastructure and industrial
development on the continent
The Department of Trade and Industry houses the Spatial Development Initiative
which is involved in project preparation and packaging.
The Department of Trade and Industry has an established focal point to address nontariff barriers through an online reporting website www.nontariffbarriers.org.
South Africa has achieved its tariff liberalization commitments with the exception of
sensitive goods listed under SADC.
SADC was established as an FTA in 2008 and member states have undertaken
commitment to liberalise tariffs on substantially all trade. South Africa and SACU
have achieved their tariff liberalisation commitments with the exception of sensitive
goods;
SACU has achieved a zero percent tariffs amongst its own members.
Furthermore, the SACU has plans to grow its regional programmes with the intention to
deepening its integration agenda. SACU’s key focus is on:
Developing regional industrial policy;
Cross-border trade facilitation initiatives;
Review of the revenue arrangement;
Establishing common institutions within an agreed policy framework; and
Promoting unified trade negotiations.
It is not just geographical spheres which overlap between the two regional organisations, but
also their strategic agendas. South Africa is an active champion of this agenda and has
embarked on a number of initiatives to harmonize policy space and assist both SACU and
SADC in this respect. For instance, it has ratified the Agreement of the African Tax
Administration Forum (ATAF) and deposited the Instrument of Ratification with the Forum’s
interim Secretariat, thus confirming its commitment to building efficient and effective tax
administration in Africa. It is anticipated that ATAF will be granted international recognition
soon and will become an independent international institution with the secretariat hosted in
South Africa.
South Africa’s expansion in global and continental relations has resulted in a greater need
for international technical cooperation that, in turn, requires an expanded international role
and a proactive approach by SARS. This is reflected in the further development of its
international relations work over the course of the past financial year 2011/12.
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