2012 Trade Audit Underway
21 May 2012
In March, SATH launched desk research and country missions towards the 2012 Audit of the Implementation of the SADC Protocol on Trade. For the 2012 Audit – the sixth of its kind – the SADC Secretariat requested SATH to carry out a comprehensive Audit, as this year marks the final year of tariff phase downs and final assessment by SATH.
The 2012 Audit involves country visits to all SADC Member States that are signatories to the SADC Protocol on Trade. Country visits are aimed to gather information for the Audit Report and, in particular, to solicit views from a wide range of stakeholders, with regards to their experience pertaining to the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Trade. So far, Audit visits have been carried out in Lesotho, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia. During May, country visits will take place in Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
In the course of these visits, SATH meets, among others, with Ministries of Trade and Industry, Customs and excise, Competition Commissions; Chambers of Commerce, SADC sanitary and phyto- sanitary and non-tariff barriers focal points; revenue authorities and national development agencies.
The outcome of this assessment will be an Audit Report which will be reviewed by the SADC Trade Negotiating Forum (TNF), Senior Officials and the Committee of Ministers of Trade (CMT) in Gaborone, Botswana, in June 2012.
The 2012 Audit involves country visits to all SADC Member States that are signatories to the SADC Protocol on Trade. Country visits are aimed to gather information for the Audit Report and, in particular, to solicit views from a wide range of stakeholders, with regards to their experience pertaining to the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Trade. So far, Audit visits have been carried out in Lesotho, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia. During May, country visits will take place in Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
In the course of these visits, SATH meets, among others, with Ministries of Trade and Industry, Customs and excise, Competition Commissions; Chambers of Commerce, SADC sanitary and phyto- sanitary and non-tariff barriers focal points; revenue authorities and national development agencies.
The outcome of this assessment will be an Audit Report which will be reviewed by the SADC Trade Negotiating Forum (TNF), Senior Officials and the Committee of Ministers of Trade (CMT) in Gaborone, Botswana, in June 2012.
Activities