Paul Kruger, a tralac Researcher, discusses the potential for manufacturing growth in the region. The 22nd World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa which was recently held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia brought together stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society and academia to discuss ways to shape Africa into a more prominent force in the global economy. [...]

Taku Fundira, a tralac Researcher, discusses deliberations on Metrology, Export Diversification and Intra-Industry Trade. In a globalised trading environment, the development of competitive industries has become the focus of many developing economies. In Africa, promoting economic diversification and boosting intra-African trade has gained prominence in debates at the national, regional and continental level. In its [...]

Paul Kruger, a tralac Researcher, discusses whether the GATS is the appropriate model for developing countries. Many developing countries are going through the process of liberalising trade in services or plotting a course to liberalise services in the near future. In southern and eastern Africa, the three configurations of COMESA, EAC and SADC have plans to [...]

In South Africa’s Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) 2012/2013-2014/2015 green industries are identified as one of the key sectors in which to strengthen industrial policy interventions (the complete document is available at http://www.thedti.gov.za/IPAP2012-15.pdf). The focus is mainly on increased manufacturing of components as inputs into the 17.8 Gigawatts renewable energy generation programme, the production of [...]

JB Cronje, a tralac Researcher, discusses infrastructure development in the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area The COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area Members identified three priority areas for the development of regional infrastructure programmes. The three identified sectors include energy, information and communications, and transport. The motivation for regional infrastructure development is to increase interconnectivity and competitiveness. [...]

Sean Woolfrey, a tralac Researcher, discusses regionalism, agriculture and economic development. A recent special edition of the journal Development Policy Review was devoted to the findings of a study on the comparative development trajectories of South-East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa over the last fifty years. One of the more notable insights that emerged from the [...]

Taku Fundira, a tralac Researcher, discusses the BRICS 2012 Summit. The countries of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa commonly referred to as the BRICS recently concluded the 4th BRICS Summit held in New Delhi. This was the second summit for South Africa since its admission to the forum in 2011 and marks the [...]

Paul Kruger, a tralac Researcher, discusses the General Agreement on Trade in Services. It has been reported that a subgroup of WTO member states is currently holding exploratory talks with the view to pursue a plurilateral services liberalisation agreement. The countries discussing the possible services agreement are part of a group called the Real Good [...]

Willemien Viljoen, a tralac Researcher, discusses the South Africa-India Investment and Trade Initiative. Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, the South African Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry is accompanying a delegation of approximately 45 South African business people on an Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) to India from 19-23 March 2012. The objectives of this initiative are to [...]

JB Cronjé, a tralac Researcher, discusses the approval of the Massmart – Wal-Mart merger. At the end of last week the South African Competition Appeal Court approved the Massmart – Wal-Mart merger subject to conditions. The process started in September 2010 when Wal-Mart made an offer to acquire 51% of Massmart’s ordinary share capital at [...]

‘Quick wins’ in infrastructure upgrading could be crucial for sustaining the political momentum required to undertake the more challenging aspects of the COMESA-EAC-SADC T-FTA agenda. Sean Woolfrey, a tralac Researcher, discusses the importance of infrastructure development under the Tripartite FTA. The last few months have seen no let up in the momentum being exhibited in [...]

Taku Fundira, a tralac Researcher, discusses selective regional industrial policy as a means to developing a regional framework in SACU The drive towards the reduction of dependence on primary commodity exports, poverty reduction, employment creation and globalisation has reinforced the case for Africa to industrialise. According to Altman and Mayer (2003), industrial development is the [...]

Paul Kruger, a tralac Researcher, discusses competitiveness in the South African telecommunications sector. One can argue that the telecommunications industry is the central nervous system of an economy – it connects all parts of the network and rapidly shares vital information between its connections. It connects users to one another  and to information, which is [...]

Short discussion done by Professor Daniel Bach, a tralac associate based at the University of Bordeaux Unlike what has happened in Asia, where the rise of ASEAN since the 1990s correlates with bottom up processes and an emphasis on ‘lean’ institutionalisation, the revival of regionalism has, in Africa, been essentially associated with ‘thick’ institutionalism and a [...]

Are frozen whole chickens and boneless chicken cuts being dumped in the SACU market causing material injury to the domestic (SACU) industry? Willemien Viljoen, a tralac Researcher, discusses anti-dumping duty on chicken from Brazil. On 24 June 2011 the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) of South Africa initiated an investigation into the alleged dumping of [...]

A recent ruling by the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Appellate Body against China’s exports restrictions on raw materials brought export restriction practices back into the spotlight.   JB Cronjé, a tralac Researcher, discusses the WTO ruling against China’s appeal on export curbs. Article XI, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT), prohibits WTO Members [...]

Sean Woolfrey, a tralac Researcher, discusses the rationale for boosting intra-African trade.This past weekend saw African leaders meeting in Addis Ababa for the 18th African Union Summit, which focused on the theme of ‘Boosting Intra-African Trade’. This choice of theme highlights the increasing emphasis being placed on addressing the relatively low volumes of trade between [...]

Taku Fundira, a tralac Researcher, discusses Africa’s engagement with the emerging markets. Since the beginning of the new millennium there has been a lot of interest in the influence on the world economy,  not only of some major emerging markets, namely Brazil, India and China, but also of the rise of Russia (since the collapse [...]