Workshops demystify EU trade access

ALAN PEAT
FOR THOSE exporters looking for better access to the ever-growing European Union (EU) market – now 25 countries strong, and SA’s major trading partner – the department of trade and industry (DTI) is running a national series of workshops on the issue. In co-operation with the European Commission (EC) delegation to SA, these workshops are designed to increase the awareness of exporters, small and medium sized entities (SMEs) and organisations representing companies and traders, on how to get better access to the EU market. Included on the agenda are: • Regulatory framework (e.g. customs tariffs, documentation and regulations, technical standards, packaging and labelling requirements, sanitary and phyto-sanitary rules, and environmental and other relevant regulations); • Trade advocacy (i.e. EU legislative developments and how to influence the respective decision making process); and a • Networking session on the functioning of the EU help-desk on trade matters. The first workshop has just been held in Pretoria, and the series is scheduled to continue in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Durban. For further information e-mail: mirriams@thedti.gov.za