A “lot of progress” has been made since Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Rob Davies’ meeting with the United States government earlier this month around South Africa’s inclusion in the extended African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) programme.
Speaking to FTW Online this morning, ahead of the launch of the SME Export Incubator, Davies said that the opening up of the South African market to meat imports, especially poultry imports, had become the central issue around which Agoa negotiations were being held.
According to Davies, the 65 000-tonne quota on poultry imports from the United States had been officially accepted by both parties. “Furthermore, the departments of agriculture, forestry and fisheries (Daff) and trade and industry (dti) have rolled out a poultry protocol,” he said, explaining that it included the outlining of procedures for ensuring that poultry from areas in the US affected by avian flu did not reach South Africa but that the market was open – subject to the protocol – for US imports.
Davies added that the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) had initiated processes to address the tariff quota issues.
“SA’s Agoa inclusion review date is set for the end of October and we are confident of a positive outcome,” said Davies.
