Dialogue on Trade Policy Reform in SA
1. Project overviewIdeological posturing has made the debate around trade reform contentious in South Africa. The antagonism around the debate has prevented an open, evidence-based dialogue. However, trade policy reform forms part of the structural economic reform agenda in South Africa, as it has potential to offer significant positive impacts on economic performance and poverty.
South Africa's trade reform of the early 1990s is now viewed as a primary cause of the high rate of unemployment in the economic debate between and within the ANC, its alliance partners (unions and communists) and the opposition, despite substantial academic evidence to the contrary
Therefore, we have decided to seek ways to promote debate in the broader public, especially in business, the media and amongst consumers and to empower them to engage politicians to consider trade policies that represent broader interests. Explicit consideration will be given to flanking measures to buttress trade reform and ensure it delivers pro-poor results.
This project hopes to empower stakeholders (media, business, consumers, opposition political parties and people within the governing alliance) to engage and influence the debate on trade policy. It aims to restore balance to the debate on the basis of evidence produced by research, and will run for two years.
Below we provide selected resources of relevance to the project, organized by broad source categories.
2. Actors in trade policy
2.1 Government
2.1.1 Speeches
Debate on the Trade & Industry Vote 32, 30 June 2009: Speech by Minister of Economic Development, Ebrahim Patel
The Department of Trade and Industry Budget Vote Address delivered by Dr Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry, 30 June 2009
Speaker's Meeting addressed by the Honourable Dr Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry on Major Trade Policy Challenges Facing South Africa, 12 October 2009.
Download the Minister's Presentation
2.1.2 Key documents
NIPF: http://www.thedti.gov.za/publications/nifp.pdf
IPAP: http://www.thedti.gov.za/publications/ipapa.pdf
Regional Industrial Development Strategy: http://www.thedti.gov.za/publications/rids.htm
WTO Trade Policy Review: Government report
2.1.3 Selected media reports
Davies says state will not hesitate to use tariffs to shield job-sensitive sectors
Free trade versus tariffs
Patel finds market economy suits him just fine
S. Africa inflation targeting to
The Zuma cabinet: An interpretation
Easy E, JZ and the economy
2.1.4 Related Links
2.2 Business
2.2.1 Key documents
Talking Points Minister of Trade and Industry
2.2.2 Selected media reports
http://www.businessleadership.org.za/documents/BLSA%20OP%202%20Deja%20Vu.pdf
2.2.4 Related Links
http://www.businessleadership.org.za/index.php
2.3 Labour
2.3.1 Speeches
South African organised labour disgusted by Pascal Lamy’s arrogance, Patrick Craven, COSATU National Spokesperson, 30 July 2009
2.3.2 Key documents
The SACP on the state of South Africa
2.3.3 Selected media reports
Cosatu calls for greater protection
Defend the parastatal sector!
Polity Cosatu slams trade agreement breakaways
3-7 Trade policy - COSATU Daily News | Google Groups
2.3.4 Related Links
http://www.solidaritysa.co.za/
2.4 Non-state actors
2.4.1 Selected publications
South Africa's Current Account Deficit: Are Proposed Cures Worse than the Disease? By Peter Draper and Andreas Freytag
http://www.saiia.org.za/images/stories/pubs/dttp/dttp_rep_25_draper_freytag.pdf
Trade Reform in Southern Africa: Vision 2014?
The Political Economy of Trade Liberalisation: What Lessons for Reforms Today? By Razeen Sally
http://www.saiia.org.za/images/upload/dttp_rep_tpr_18_sally_20001007.pdf
Flatters, F. and Stern, M. (2008) Trade and industrial policy in South Africa
South African agriculture protection: how much policy space is there?
The four pillars of South African agricultural trade policy
The Political Economy of Trade Reform in Emerging Markets: Crisis or Opportunity edited by Draper, P. Alves, P. Sally, R.
http://www.e-elgar.co.uk/bookentry_main.lasso?id=13242
WTO Trade Policy Review at: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/s222-04_e.doc
2.4.2 Selected media reports
To incentivise (internal) trade or not to incentivise: What is the real question? By André Roux
Zuma-ites eye higher tariff walls
Business Report - Trade policy talk must be open Platform for debate
Trade Policy Trajectory in South Africa
2.4.3 Related Links
3 Events
3.1 Past events
3.1.1 Scoping Workshop
The workshop took place on August 13th 2009 at the Premier Hotel in Pretoria, South Africa. Attended by senior government, business, labour officials as well as academics its purpose was to scope a two year research agenda designed to build the evidence base to underpin subsequent dialogue.
Hyuha’s presentation
Marcelo’s presentation and paper
http://www.iadb.org/intal/aplicaciones/uploads/publicaciones/i_IECI_WP_11_2006_PaivaAbreu.pdf
3.1.2 Public Trade Forum
The purpose of the forum is to scrutinize South Africa’s trade policy measures proposed by the draft trade policy document. Tariff review, subsidies and transparency are among some of the issues that will be explored at the forum. The forum will take place on 09 November 2009 at Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town, South Africa. The forum will primarily target senior government officials; relevant organized business groupings; the media; and NGOs.
Agenda and presentations
- Marcus Noland presentation
- Bill Bowen presentation
- Nimrod Zalk presentation
- Siyabulela Tsengiwe presentation
3.2 Upcoming Events
3.2.1 Critical Thinking Forum/Strategic Retreat
Scheduled to take place tentatively on 10-11 March 2010, the Mail and Guardian/SAIIA Critical Thinking Forum/Strategic Retreat will primarily target high ranking government, business and labour constituencies with participation by internationally renowned trade experts. This year’s key theme is centred around the hotly debated issue on trade, industrial policy and the exchange rate.
3.2.2 Media Training Course
Approximately 10 local journalists will be targeted for a training course on the costs and benefits of trade reform. Participants to be invited from Business Day, Engineering News, Financial mail; Business Report; Money Web, CNBC, SABC, eTV. This process will unfold in the first second quarter of 2010.
4 Project Publications
4.1 Subsidies as instruments of industrial policy
4.2 Trade, industrial policy and exchange rates
4.3 Implementation, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in trade and industrial policies
4.4 Opportunities for promoting industrial development in SA given the current economic context
4.5 Trade impact on growth and poverty
4.6 Giving effect to transparency in trade policy making process
