Both Zimbabwe and South Africa say they are pleased at the terms of the revised trade agreement on clothing and textiles signed in Harare at the beginning of April. The South African high commission in Harare has called the new pact a major breakthrough while Zimbabwe's trade and commerce minister Nathan Shamyuarira said that thousands of jobs that were in jeopardy had now been saved.
Tariffs range from a minimum of 14% on cotton yarn to a maximum of 30% on clothing. All the goods are subject to quotas and the tariffs are gradually reduced over five years (see separate table). Clothing is broken down into dozens of different categories, with the largest quota being taken up by T-shirts, singlets and vests (400 000 units a year), men's and boys' shirts (400 000 units), men's and boy's trousers (300 000 units), women's and girls' briefs (570 000 units) and men's and boys' briefs (390 000 units).
There is still uncertainty in Harare over the attitude of the World Trade Organisation to the deal, with some observers predicting that there will have to be changes of some sort within the next couple of years, to accommodate complaints by Asian and other African countries.
Discussions are continuing over the agricultural tariffs and quotas.
Category Table Tariff(%) Quota (per year) 1997 01/09/2002 Cotton yarn 800 000kg 14,0 7.5 Woven fabrics 3 000 000sq.metres. 19,5 11 Terry towelling 100 000sq.metres 24,5 15 Napkins 120 000kg 24,5 15 Blankets 40 000 units 24,5 15 Bedlinen 100 000kg 24,5 15 Household linen of terry towelling 145 000kg 24,5 15 Clothing 3 127 000units 30,0 20
