Statement
of the Chief Negotiators
On the initialling of the
Interim Economic Partnership Agreement
Between the SADC EPA States on the one part and
The European Community and its Member States, on the other part
We the Chief Negotiators of the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement
hereby agree that we shall exchange final single tariff schedules with applied
duties (including their phasing-out) by end of January 2008 at the latest,
reflecting the agreed tariff concessions covered in the annexes of this text.
Within the same timeframe we undertake to notify all Parties of any material or
factual errors or omissions that need to be rectified before signature.
We agree to continue negotiations on all outstanding issues for a full EPA to be
concluded no later than 31.12.2008.
In initialling this Interim Agreement we acknowledge that this text represents
the outcome of a negotiation with SADC EPA States including the Republic of
South Africa and the Republic of Namibia. This is reflected in the provisions of
this Agreement.
Should the Republic of South Africa and / or the Republic of Namibia fail to
initial this text by Thursday the 29th of November 2007 at 12h00, the provisions
of this text, its Protocols and Annexes specifically referring to the Republic of
South Africa and /or the Republic of Namibia will be deleted and considered as
not having any legal value. EC tariff offers made to South Africa, or tariff
alignment reflecting specific requests of Namibia will also be withdrawn and
considered as not effective.
The previous paragraph is without prejudice to the rights of the Republic of
South Africa and / or the Republic of Namibia to avail themselves of the
procedures described in Article 110 of this Agreement.
We note that the Parties intend to apply this Agreement respectively:
• The European Community from 1 January 2008 on the basis of Article 105 (6),
prior to provisional application, and thereafter by provisional application,
pending ratification;
• The SADC EPA States from 1 July 2008 at the latest.
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(original signed except South Africa and Namibia)
Karl F.FALKENBERG Banny K. MOLOSIWA
EC CHIEF NEGOTIATOR SADC EPA CHIEF NEGOTIATOR
MOTLHWARE K.J.MASISI
CHIEF NEGOTIATOR REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA
DAVID MOHLOMI RANTEKOA
CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, KINGDOM OF LESOTHO
MARIA MANUELA LUCAS
AMBASSADOR OF MOZAMBIQUE
SWAZI P. DLAMINI
KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND
………………………….
CHIEF NEGOTIATOR REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA
………………………….
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
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INTERIM ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE SADC EPA STATES, OF THE ONE PART,
AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND ITS MEMBER STATES,
OF THE OTHER PART
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13
Chapter I General provisions……………………………………………………………………. 13
Objectives …………………………………………………………………………………………. 13
Principles ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 14
Sustainable development ……………………………………………………………………. 14
Regional integration…………………………………………………………………………… 15
Monitoring………………………………………………………………………………………… 15
Cooperation in international fora ………………………………………………………. 15
Chapter II Development cooperation…………………………………………………………. 16
Development cooperation framework ………………………………………………… 16
Development finance cooperation………………………………………………………. 16
Chapter III Areas of Cooperation ……………………………………………………………… 17
Objectives …………………………………………………………………………………………. 17
Cooperation in Trade in Goods………………………………………………………….. 17
Cooperation in supply-side competitiveness ……………………………………….. 18
Cooperation in business enhancing infrastructure ……………………………… 18
Cooperation in trade in services…………………………………………………………. 18
Cooperation in Trade Related Issues………………………………………………….. 18
Cooperation in trade data………………………………………………………………….. 18
Cooperation for EPA Institutional Capacity Building ………………………… 19
Cooperation on fiscal adjustment. ……………………………………………………… 19
Types of Interventions……………………………………………………………………….. 19
PART II …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20
Chapter I General Provisions…………………………………………………………………….. 20
TITLE 1 TRADE IN GOODS…………………………………………………………………………….. 20
Free Trade Agreement………………………………………………………………………. 20
Scope 20
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Rules of origin…………………………………………………………………………………… 20
Customs Duties, Fees and Other Charges…………………………………………… 21
Standstill …………………………………………………………………………………………… 22
Duties, Taxes or other fees and charges on exports …………………………….. 22
Customs duties on products originating in the SADC EPA States……….. 22
Customs duties on products originating in the EC ……………………………… 23
Free circulation of goods……………………………………………………………………. 23
Management of administrative errors………………………………………………… 26
Customs Unions and Free-trade areas ……………………………………………….. 26
TITLE II TRADE DEFENSE INSTRUMENTS ……………………………………………………….. 27
Anti-dumping and countervailing measures ………………………………………… 27
Multilateral safeguards……………………………………………………………………… 27
Bilateral Safeguard ……………………………………………………………………………. 27
Chapter II Non-Tariff Measures………………………………………………………………… 31
Prohibition of quantitative restrictions ………………………………………………. 31
National treatment on internal taxation and regulation………………………. 31
Chapter III Customs and Trade Facilitation……………………………………………….. 33
Objectives …………………………………………………………………………………………. 33
Customs and administrative cooperation……………………………………………. 33
Customs and Legislative Procedures………………………………………………………. 34
Facilitation of transit movements ………………………………………………………. 36
Customs fees and charges ………………………………………………………………….. 36
Relations with the Business Community …………………………………………….. 36
Customs Valuation ……………………………………………………………………………. 37
Harmonisation of customs standards at regional level ………………………… 37
Support to SADC EPA customs administrations ………………………………… 37
Transitional arrangements …………………………………………………………………. 38
Special Committee on Customs and Trade Facilitation …………………………….. 38
Chapter IV Technical Barriers to Trade …………………………………………………… 39
Multilateral obligations……………………………………………………………………… 39
Objectives …………………………………………………………………………………………. 40
Scope and definitions…………………………………………………………………………. 40
Collaboration and regional integration………………………………………………. 40
Transparency ……………………………………………………………………………………. 40
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Measures for identifying, preventing and eliminating technical
barriers to trade……………………………………………………………………. 41
Implementation…………………………………………………………………………………. 42
Chapter V Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures ………………………………………. 43
Multilateral Obligations…………………………………………………………………….. 43
Objectives …………………………………………………………………………………………. 43
Scope and definitions…………………………………………………………………………. 44
Competent Authorities………………………………………………………………………. 44
Transparency ……………………………………………………………………………………. 44
Information Exchange……………………………………………………………………….. 45
Implementation…………………………………………………………………………………. 45
Consultations …………………………………………………………………………………….. 45
Cooperation, capacity building and Technical Assistance on Sanitary…………. 46
and phyto-sanitary measures ………………………………………………………………… 46
APPENDIX I A:…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 47
PRIORITY PRODUCTS AND SECTORS FOR SADC-EPA STATE REGIONAL
HARMONISATION………………………………………………………………………………… 47
APPENDIX I B:…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 48
PRIORITY PRODUCTS AND SECTORS FOR EXPORT FROM SADC EPA STATES
TO THE EC PARTY: …………………………………………………………………………….. 48
TITLE III CURRENT PAYMENTS AND CAPITAL MOVEMENT………………………………… 49
Current payments………………………………………………………………………………… 49
Safeguard measures …………………………………………………………………………….. 49
TITLE IV ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS FOR FULL EPA………………………………………… 50
PART III……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 52
DISPUTE AVOIDANCE AND SETTLEMENT…………………………………………………….. 52
Objective…………………………………………………………………………………………… 52
Scope 52
Chapter I Consultations and mediation …………………………………………………….. 52
Consultations …………………………………………………………………………………….. 52
Mediation………………………………………………………………………………………….. 53
Chapter II Dispute settlement procedures………………………………………………….. 53
Section 1 – Arbitration Procedure …………………………………………………………. 53
Initiation of the arbitration procedure……………………………………………….. 53
Interim panel report…………………………………………………………………………… 54
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Arbitration panel ruling …………………………………………………………………….. 55
Section 2 – Compliance……………………………………………………………………….. 55
Compliance with the arbitration panel ruling………………………………………. 55
The reasonable period of time for compliance ……………………………………… 55
Review of any measure taken to comply with the arbitration panel
ruling……………………………………………………………………………………. 56
Temporary remedies in case of non-compliance…………………………………… 57
Review of any measure taken to comply after the adoption of
appropriate measures ……………………………………………………………. 57
Section 3 – Common Provisions …………………………………………………………… 58
Mutually agreed solution ……………………………………………………………………. 58
Rules of Procedure and Code of Conduct…………………………………………….. 58
Information and technical advice………………………………………………………… 59
Languages of the submissions……………………………………………………………… 59
Rules of interpretation ……………………………………………………………………….. 59
Arbitration panel rulings……………………………………………………………………. 59
List of arbitrators………………………………………………………………………………. 60
Relation with WTO obligations…………………………………………………………… 60
Time lines………………………………………………………………………………………….. 61
PART IV……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 62
General exception clause…………………………………………………………………….. 62
Security exceptions…………………………………………………………………………….. 63
Taxation ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 63
PART V…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 65
Chapter I Institutional Provisions ……………………………………………………………… 65
Establishment of a Joint Institution…………………………………………………….. 65
Composition and Functions………………………………………………………………… 65
Decision-making powers and procedures …………………………………………….. 66
Trade and Development Committee (“the Committee”)……………………….. 67
PART VI GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS ………………………………………………. 68
Definition of the Parties and fulfilment of obligations …………………………… 68
Exchange of information…………………………………………………………………….. 69
Transparency…………………………………………………………………………………….. 69
Temporary difficulties in implementation……………………………………………. 70
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Regional preferences………………………………………………………………………….. 70
Outermost regions of the European Community………………………………….. 70
Relations with the Cotonou Agreement and the TDCA…………………………. 71
Relations with the WTO Agreement……………………………………………………. 71
Entry into force …………………………………………………………………………………. 72
Duration……………………………………………………………………………………………. 72
Territorial application ……………………………………………………………………….. 72
Revision clause…………………………………………………………………………………… 73
Amendments……………………………………………………………………………………… 73
Accession of new EU Member States …………………………………………………… 73
Accession…………………………………………………………………………………………… 74
Languages and Authentic texts …………………………………………………………… 74
Annexes…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 74
PROTOCOL II ……………………………………………………………………………………………………75
Definitions…………………………………………………………………………………………. 75
Scope 75
Assistance on Request ………………………………………………………………………… 76
Spontaneous assistance ………………………………………………………………………. 77
Delivery and notification…………………………………………………………………….. 77
Form and substance of requests for assistance……………………………………… 78
Execution of requests …………………………………………………………………………. 78
Form in which information is to be communicated ………………………………. 79
Exceptions to the obligation to provide assistance ………………………………… 80
Information exchange and confidentiality……………………………………………. 80
Experts and witnesses ………………………………………………………………………… 81
Assistance expenses ……………………………………………………………………………. 81
Implementation …………………………………………………………………………………. 82
Amendments……………………………………………………………………………………… 82
Final Provisions …………………………………………………………………………………. 82
ANNEX 1………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 84
ANNEX 2………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 85
CUSTOMS DUTIES ON PRODUCTS ORIGINATING IN SADC EPA
STATES OTHER THAN SOUTH AFRICA ……………………………………………….. 85
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ANNEX 3………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 88
ANNEX 4………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 89
ANNEXES
Annex 1 Import of products originating in South Africa
Annex 2 Import of products subject to a transitional regime
Annex 3 Import into SACU of product originating in the EC
Annex 4 Import into Mozambique of products originating in the EC
PROTOCOLS
Protocol 1 Concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods
of administrative cooperation
Protocol 2 Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters
DECLARATIONS
Joint EC – SADC EPA Declaration on financial procedures
EC Declaration on Dispute Avoidance and Settlement
Joint EC-SADC EPA Declaration on Angola and Tanzania
Namibian Declaration on the origin of fisheries products
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PREAMBLE
THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA,
THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO,
THE REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE,
THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA,
THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND,
THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA,
on the one part1, (hereinafter referred to as the SADC EPA States), and
THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM,
THE CZECH REPUBLIC,
THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK,
THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,
THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA,
THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC,
THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN,
THE FRENCH REPUBLIC,
IRELAND,
THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC,
THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS,
THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA,
THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA,
THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG,
THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY,
THE REPUBLIC OF MALTA,
THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS,
THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA,
THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND,
THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC,
THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA,
THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC,
THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND,
THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN,
THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND,
THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA,
THE REPUBLIC OF ROMANIA, and
the European Community (EC) hereinafter jointly referred to as the ‘EC Party’,
on the other part,
1 A Joint Declaration on Angola and Tanzania is attached to the Agreement.
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