UK, Mozambique, SACU to work towards new economic partnership

Sep 03, 2018: The United Kingdom (UK) trade ministers, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and Mozambique have committed to continue to work together towards a post-Brexit economic partnership agreement (EPA).

The three entities released a joint declaration following a meeting in Cape Town which noted that significant progress had been made by officials in discussions on a future UK-SACU-Mozambique EPA that would replicate the effects of the existing Southern African Development Community (SADC)-European Union (EU) EPA.

“We have confirmed that we will be in a position to ensure than an agreement can be in place between the UK, SACU and Mozambique as soon as the SADC-EU no longer applies to the UK. This confirmation, and the future UK, SACU and Mozambique EPA, are without prejudice to the terms of the SADC-EU EPA,” the statement said.

The joint statement also noted that steps were being taken to ensure the replicated agreement could be in place immediately upon the UK’s withdrawal from the EU in March 2019 in the event no agreement is reached between the EU and the UK.

“Our EPA will form the core basis of our future economic and development relationship. We recognised that some issues have been identified that will require consideration after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU in March 2019 and therefore direct our officials to prepare a built-in agenda on those outstanding issues for expeditious conclusion,” it said.