United States-Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Free Trade Agreement Negotiations: Background and Potential Issues

Langton, Danielle

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Foreign policy;    Foreign relations - U.S. - South African Customs Union;    Free trade;    International trade;    Trade agreements;   

RP-ID  :  RS21387
RP-ID  :  RS21387_2008Jul24

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

This report discusses negotiations to launch a free trade agreement (FTA) between the United States and the five members of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland) that began on June 3, 2003. A potential FTA would eliminate tariffs over time, reduce or eliminate non-tariff barriers, liberalize service trade, protect intellectual property rights, and provide technical assistance to help SACU nations achieve the goals of the agreement. This potential agreement would be subject to congressional approval.