On-line survey invites input from SA exporters

Spotlight falls on impact of tariff reductions on Europe trade JOY ORLEK AN ON-LINE survey into the impact of tariff reductions on trade between South Africa and Europe has just been launched. A joint project by the European Commission in close cooperation with the South African Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the survey will review the changes in trade flows between the two areas since the mid-90s and assess the impact of the tariff reductions applied by the Trade and Development Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) which came into force in 2000. Essentially, the study needs to establish whether increases in trade are a direct result of the TDCA. Two research and consulting companies (TAC in Europe, and Whitehouse & Associates in South Africa) are conducting the survey among companies active in trade from South Africa to Europe and from Europe to South Africa. “It will be a key element in the assessment and will provide vital input into the review of the TDCA which takes place later this year,” says consultant Liz Whitehouse. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and can be completed on-line at: http://www.trade-invest.org/southafrica/. The closing date for submissions is November 10. As a reward for participation, companies that respond will receive the full results when the survey is complete at the end of 2004.