“The next round of the SA-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks will be held
from 16 – 18 September in Brussels. This will be the twentieth round of talks in
these protracted negotiations. Some analysts feel that unless agreement is reached by mid-October, the FTA will not materialise. Who are the personalities that shape these negotiations and what are their options? International trade negotiations are often
shaped as much by government policy
as by the personalities of those involved
in the technical discussions. South
Africa’s negotiations with the European
Union (EU) over a Free Trade Agreement
have been in progress since 1994. The
negative sentiments that have recently
emerged from negotiators on the prospect of reaching an agreement have led to questions about the role and abilities of the SA team.”
