SA’s UK trade agreement ‘will continue’ despite chaotic Brexit talks

As uncertainty intensifies over the UK’s pending exit from the European Union , SA’s government is on a charm offensive, saying there won’t be any disruption to the country’s more than R70 billion annual duty-free exports to the UK.

In an interview with Moneyweb, department of trade and industry director-general Lionel October said SA will still have the same trade conditions it currently has in place with the UK if it exits the EU without a trade agreement – a worst-case scenario known as a ‘no deal’ Brexit. This means SA will continue to enjoy unfettered access to the UK through duty-free exports of locally produced goods including fruit and wine.

The British government is already looking at ways to impose the tariffs it will apply to general trade with the world on 469 imported items for the next 12 months if it leaves the EU with no trade agreement. The affected items include car exports , clothing and textiles, lamb, beef, pork, poultry, rice, fish, fertiliser, fats and oils, sugar and others.

The agreement, which is expected to apply until the end of 2022, gives South Africa export opportunities in other EU countries including Spain and France. If the UK leaves the EU customs union, October expects the agreement to be rolled over and extended, enabling SA to maintain its trade relations with the UK and the greater EU trade bloc.

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