Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
Representatives of the European Commission and the Government of South Africa met on 19 and 20 June 1997 in Brussels for their 12th round of technical discussions on the planned EU/SA bilateral agreement. This latest round of talks focused on the question of trade cooperation and improved access to each others markets.
South Africa presented a supplementary offer in support of its earlier position. The offer provides for both the framework and time schedule for the proposed dismantling of tariffs with the view to complete the detailed negotiations by the end of 1997. In its offer South Africa commits itself to free trade whilst providing for mechanisms to address the severe adjustment which would be faced by certain sectors.
The Commission welcomed South Africa's presentation as an useful new input in the discussion. It recalled its earlier trade proposal and gave a further elaboration on some of its aspects.
Both sides underlined their firm intention to negotiate a Free Trade Area which is fully compatible with WTO obligations, taking account of both sides' sensitivities. The Free Trade Area will be based on the principles of differentiation and asymmetry and will be designed in a way which is conductive to the process of trade cooperation and integration in the EADC region.
Both sides agreed to intensify technical discussions ad negotiations.
A ministerial meeting will take place in Brussels on 18 July 1997.
ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION PRETORIA 23 June 1997