U.S. continues push for free trade agreement with Southern African bloc
The Bush administration said it will continue to press for a free trade agreement with the countries of the Southern African Customs Union.
The union comprises Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland.
“The United States and SACU will develop a joint work program to address a broad range of FTA and other trade- and investment-related issues, and potentially in the near-term, seek to conclude concrete trade and investment-enhancing agreements,” said Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Karan Bhatia in a statement Tuesday.
The United States and Southern African Customs Union started free trade agreement talks in 2003 to build upon the African Growth and Opportunities Act, under which two-way trade between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa has more than doubled.
U.S. continues push for free trade agreement with Southern African bloc
