As the rest of the world scrambles to prepare for the inevitable divorce of the United Kingdom from the European Union at the end of this month, South African importers and exporters however can expect minimal changes to trade post-Brexit, according to a leading trade specialist. In an inter view w i t h F T W, Catherine Grant Makokera, director of Tutwa Consulting Group, called Brexit ‘a bit of a non-event this time around’, adding that the delays in negotiations between the UK and EU had actually benefited the southern African states. “The relationship and trade agreements between South Africa and the UK shouldn’t changeat all post-Brexit,” said Makokera. “The delays have actually worked in favour of South Africa and its neighbouring countries following the signing of a new trade arrangement with the UK la st year.”The agreement in question is the SACUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement, which is a trade deal between the UK and members of the Southern African Customs Union (Sa cu) to promote increased trade and investment for both parties. The agreement came into effect in November last year, and will run alongside the current SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement until the end of the year. With these trade agreements in place, Makokera believes that Brexit will have a very limited impact on South African imports, but logistical complications in the EU could affect South African goods destined for the UK, she added. “It is not exactly clear what the customs laws will be between the EU and UK, and what their logistical implications will be for South African traders,” she said. “What might change are exports from southern Africa to the UK, as a lot of goods destined for the UK will travel to ports like Rotterdam or Antwerp in the EU, before being transported to the UK. And that’s where the uncertainties arise.” She highlighted the country’s automobile sector as an industry vulnerable to changes post-Brexit, adding that the EU and UK would need to agree on things such as ports of origin to ease the complexities of the global supply chain. Despite the uncertainties, Makokera said South African imports and exports would rely more heavily on South Africa’s capacity to supply goods than policy changes associated with Brexit, citing the crippling drought and ongoing struggles at state-owned entities as the primary reasons for trade declining. “The continued difficulties at state-owned entities, such as Eskom, are having a detrimental impact on trade for South Africa. The ongoing power cuts have limited the supply and manufacture of products in the country, which in turn will slow down demand as well,” said Makokera. At the recent UK-Africa Investment Summit in London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the UK could be the perfect partner to unlock the “staggering levels of growth” on the continent, and Makokera shared similar sentiments. “The UK is looking to rebuild their partnership (with Africa) on a bilateral basis. Equally, President Ramaphosa has made a few state visits to the UK since starting his term, and we have seen trade minister Ibrahim Patel speak very passionately about the relationship between the two countries.”