EU reduces tariffs on SA exports
Candace Freeman
26 October 2004
The European Community has agreed to grant tariff preferences on limited quantities of selected products from South Africa.
The agreement will enable South African exporters to trade their goods throughout Europe at reduced export duty levies.
The new trade arrangement is a result of the Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement between the EC and South Africa that was signed in January 2000.
The agreement provides for the establishment of a Free Trade Area between South Africa and the EU in accordance with the World Trade Organisation rules to increase European development assistance to South Africa.
"The Department of Agriculture will be administering the EC agricultural quotas on behalf of government and export permits will be issued to access the products at reduced levels of duty," spokesperson Steve Galane said.
The products that can be exported at reduced levels are cheese, cut flowers, frozen strawberries,
canned fruit (pears, apricots and peaches), frozen orange juice, pineapple juice, apple juice, sparkling wine as well as white and red wine.
"Export permits will be issued only to registered exporters for trade with specific European countries," said Galane.
All exporters and potential exporters interested in exporting any of these products can visit the Agriculture department's website.
Applications for export rights must be submitted to the department before 15 November.
Source: BuaNews
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