Regional Economic Integration
With the exception of the East African Community, where regional economic integration has survived initialling of the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement (IEPA) with the European Union, in all other sub-Saharan groupings crisis and division is the norm. The blame for this unfortunate situation cannot be laid solely at the door of the European Union; rather a long history of un-implemented commitments, sovereignties jealously guarded, regional ‘forum-shopping’ on the part of many African countries, all based on undiversified commodity exporting economies is also to blame. Yet the political impetus behind regional economic integration, at continental level in particular but most recently reflected in the tripartite FTA initiative involving SADC, COMESA, and the EAC, remains strong.
How then should regional economic integration be constructed? Do we need to think of new models, more appropriate to regional institutional capacities, economic and political conditions? What lessons can be learned from south-south integration schemes in other developing regions? What is the role of external actors in such schemes, and what should their role be in Southern Africa? These questions and more form the basis of a multi-year, comparative research agenda, building on extensive work conducted at SAIIA on this broad theme.
Regional Economic Integration: Publications
Policy Briefings
Are natural advantages ever enough? Mozambican sugar’s uncertain future in a changing European policy environment
by Gilberto Biacuana
Trade Policy Briefing, No 17, August 2007
Malawi and the regional overlap problem: Trade policy options
by George Naphambo
Trade Policy Briefing, No 16, July 2007
Regional Integration in Central Africa: Opportunities and challenges
by Durrel N Halleson
Trade Policy Briefing, No 15, July 2007
RECs in Eastern and Southern Africa: Attractive options for Zimbabwe
by M Masiiwa
Trade Policy Briefing, No 14, March 2007
SACU and the Political Economy of Regionalism: Towards Deeper and Broader Integration?
by Rod Alence
Trade Policy Briefing, No 12, June 2006
SACU and India: Towards a PTA
by Mills Soko
Trade Policy Briefing, No 11, March 2006
Negotiating Trade Agreements with India: The Reality Below the Water Line
by Julius Sen
Trade Policy Briefing, No 8, November 2004
The European Union after Enlargement
by Erik Jones
Trade Policy Briefing, No 6, October 2004
Brazil’s position in the Free Trade: Agreement of the Americas Negotiation Process
by Alexandre Zourabishvili
Trade Policy Briefing, No 5, February 2004
Mexico’s NAFTA: More Pros than Cons
by Lyal White
Trade Policy Briefing, No 4, January 2004
Occasional Papers
What Does the Future Hold for SACU? From Own Goal to Laduma! Scenarios for the Future of the Southern African Customs Union
By Tanja Hichert, Peter Draper & Talitha Bertelsmann-Scott
SAIIA Occasional Paper, No 63, July 2010
Trade futures 2014: The WTO and Southern Africa's External Trade Relations
by Tanja Hichert, Peter Draper & Philip Alves
Trade Report, No 22, July 2008
SACU, Regional Integration, and the Overlap Issue in Southern Africa: From Spaghetti to Cannelloni?
by Peter Draper, Durrell Halleson & Philip Alves
Trade Report, No 15, February 2007
Engaging Asia's Biggest Tiger: Exploring the Contours of a SACU-China Trade Deal
by Philip Alves
Trade Report, No 14, February 2007
Identifying Export Opportunities for SACU in the US Market
by Nnzeni Netshitomboni, Christopher Stevens & Jane Kennan
Trade Report, No 9, February 2006
The TDCA: Impacts, Lessons and Perspectives for EU-South and Southern African Relations (Report on the SAIIA Conference, 4-5 November 2004)
by Talitha Bertelsmann-Scott & Peter Draper (eds.)
Trade Report, No 7, July 2005
Reflections on Approaching an FTA Negotiation with Mercosur: A Review of Key Issues
by Simon Roberts
Trade Report, No 6, December 2004
Understanding Indian Trade Policy: Implications for the Indo-SACU Agreement
by Philip Alves
Trade Report, No 5, November 2004
US Trade Strategy after Cancun: Prospects and Implications for the SACU–US FTA
by Peter Draper & Mills Soko
Trade Report, No 4, May 2004
Opinion Pieces
Simmering tensions in the region call for cool heads
by Peter Draper
Published in Business Report, 12 July 2009
SACU and Deeper Integration
by Tsidiso Disenyana
9 December 2008
Fragments of Trade
by Peter Draper & Gerhard Erasmus
Published in Mail & Guardian, 11 April 2008
Development Through Trade - Business Day Exporter Column - April 2008
by Phil Alves
Southern Africa: European Trade Deal Challenges Unity
by Nkululeko Khumalo
Published on AllAfrica.com, 6 March 2008
Africa: Europe Trade Pacts Offer New Challenges, Opportunities
by Peter Draper
Published on AllAfrica.com, 4 February 2008
Development through Trade - Business Day Exporter column - Dec07
by Philip Alves
Published in Business Day Exporter, 4 December 2007
Multilateralizing Regionalism - Implications for Africa
by Peter Draper
Published in Business in Africa, 15 November 2007
Development through Trade - Business Day Exporter column
by Nkululeko Khumalo
Published in Business Day Exporter, 6 August 2007
EPAs can succeed if negotiated in good faith
by Nkululeko Khumalo
Published in Business Day, 4 June 2007
Development through Trade - Business Day Exporter column
by Philip Alves
Published in Business Day Exporter, 4 June 2007
Engaging Asia's Biggest Tiger
by Philip Alves
Published in Business in Africa, 01 March 2007
Business Must Not Miss this Boat
by Peter Draper
Published in Business Day, 16 December 2005
Bigger Sacu Could Lead the Way
by Peter Draper
Published in Business Day, 22 August 2005
Compass and Energy Drink Needed for Reluctant Team Leader
by Peter Draper
Published in Business Report, 11 August 2005
Can India Deliver the Goods?
by Philip Alves & Peter Draper
Published in Mail & Guardian, 26 November 2004
Diplomatic Pouch
Regional Integration Agenda: The SADC Summit and the SADC FTA
by SAIIA
Diplomatic Pouch, 11 August 2008
Books
Trade Reform in Southern Africa: Vision 2014?
by Peter Draper & Philip Alves (eds)
Fanele/Jacana Media, 2009 (13: 978-1-920196-20-2)
One Size Doesn't Fit All: Deal-Breaker Issues in the Failed US-SACU Free Trade Negotiations
By Peter Draper & Nkululekho Khumalo (eds)
SAIIA, 2007 (1-919969-02-2)
Regional Integration and Economic Partnership Agreements: Southern Africa at the Crossroads
by Talitha Bertelsmann-Scott & Peter Draper (eds)
SAIIA, 2006 (1-919969-59-4)
Enter the Dragon - Towards a Free Trade Agreement Between China and the Southern African Customs Union
By Peter Draper & Garth le Pere (eds)
SAIIA, 2005 (1-919697-80-2)
Regional Integration in Southern Africa: Comparative International Perspectives
by Christopher Clapham, Greg Mills, Anna Morner & Elizabeth Sidiropoulos (eds)
SAIIA, 2001 (1-919810-19-6)
