Blog - tralac trade law centre

Zimbabwe ratifies the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement: What does this mean for Zimbabwe?

Talkmore Chidede

- 23 Oct 2018

On 17 October 2018, Zimbabwe deposited with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Secretariat its instrument of ratification of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) [1] , becoming the...

South African Poultry Association files an Application for setting aside AGOA

Gerhard Erasmus

- 1 Oct 2018

How do private parties involved in intra-African trade protect their rights and interests which may flow from the application of trade agreements? They do not, as a rule, enjoy standing...

The Crisis in WTO Dispute Settlement

Gerhard Erasmus

- 1 Oct 2018

The effective functioning of the dispute settlement system of the WTO is essential for rules-based multilateral trade. It provides certainty and predictability and prevents power-based...

The Dispute Settlement Mechanism under the African Continental Free Trade Area

Obert Bore

- 1 Oct 2018

African Governments do not litigate against each other in trade matters. Will it be different under the African Continental Free Trade Area? We do not know. What we do know is that this...

Dispute settlement in the East African Community (EAC)

Talkmore Chidede, Louis Gitinywa

- 1 Oct 2018

The EAC is a regional intergovernmental organisation of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The EAC, among other things, aims to widen and deepen cooperation among...

Alternative Dispute Settlement Procedures for Trade-related Disputes in Africa

Gerhard Erasmus

- 1 Oct 2018

African State are not active users of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The explanations point to Africa’s small share of global trade and...

Investment dispute resolution under the Amended Annex 1 of the SADC FIP

Talkmore Chidede

- 1 Oct 2018

Effective dispute resolution is important for foreign investors. It guarantees legal certainty and predictability in markets and provides remedies when rights are violated. The resolution...

MTN vs. Nigeria: on the perils of investment in Nigeria, or the arrogance of South African multinationals?

Ashly Hope

- 1 Oct 2018

In late August this year, MTN was ordered by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to return around US$8.1 billion alleged to have been illegally repatriated (to its South African parent...

South Africa to ratify Tripartite FTA and Continental Free Trade Area Agreements

Gerhard Erasmus

- 17 Sep 2018

The South African Parliament is in the process of ratifying the Tripartite FTA Agreement. South Africa signed the TFTA in July 2017. The aim behind this Agreement is eventually to bring 26...

Education in the 21st Century Digital World

John Stuart

- 14 Sep 2018

In his 1995 best-selling book ‘The Road Ahead’, Microsoft founder Bill Gates said “the computer won’t dominate the learning experience, but it will effectively augment learning, especially...

BREXIT: Where does it stand and what are the options?

Gerhard Erasmus

- 12 Sep 2018

If I were a business person in the United Kingdom (UK) or a concerned voter, I would be somewhat unhappy about the persistent uncertainty regarding the outcome of the Brexit process. There...

Brexit on Tour in Africa

Trudi Hartzenberg, Gerhard Erasmus

- 4 Sep 2018

Prime Minister Theresa May made a brief visit last week to South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. These are the large, anchor economies of Southern, East and West Africa. They are also all...

Trade Governance Support to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati

- 31 Aug 2018

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand became, on June 21 this year, only the second head of state to give birth in office, after late prime minister Bhutto of Pakistan. She is the...

Women driving the Cosmetics Sector in Namibia

Maria Immanuel

- 31 Aug 2018

Like agriculture and textiles, the cosmetics sector in Namibia is largely driven by women. Namibia’s cosmetic industry is probably one of the fastest growing in the country at the moment...

Women, trade and financial inclusion in SADC

Ashly Hope

- 30 Aug 2018

Financial inclusion is linked to both economic growth and poverty alleviation. It enables people to participate in the economy, and therefore to trade. It is necessary for business growth...

A gender agenda: South Africa’s tourism trade

Ashly Hope

- 30 Aug 2018

South Africa has a sophisticated framework for gender equality. Equality is enshrined in the constitution, and legal protections and institutions are in place. Despite this, gender...

Promoting Women’s Participation in the AfCFTA

Treasure Maphanga

- 29 Aug 2018

The recent signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area in Kigali on 21 March 2018 marked a momentous occasion in trade policy discourse in Africa. The Agreement seeks to create a...

Identifying the role of civil society in the SADC EPA

Talkmore Chidede

- 21 Aug 2018

The demand for civil society participation in the negotiation and implementation of trade agreements has recently intensified following the growing and progressive mainstreaming of...

Does Rand Depreciation Help South Africa’s Exports?

John Stuart

- 13 Aug 2018

In the 1930s, before the era of floating exchange rates, countries would try to gain a competitive advantage for their exports by means of ‘competitive devaluation’. This practice refers...

2018 SADC Summit – Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development

Trudi Hartzenberg, Gerhard Erasmus

- 13 Aug 2018

The 38th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will take place 17th to 18th August 2018 in Namibia. The occasion of the...