The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been urged to reassess its global trade partnerships and strengthen regional integration as the United States considers sweeping new tariffs that could significantly impact African exports.
Speaking at the 34th Meeting of the Committee of Ministers of Trade and the 24th Meeting of the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration in Harare, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi warned that the evolving global trade landscape necessitates bold, strategic responses. He called on member states to enhance their negotiation capacities and prioritize regional cooperation to protect and advance their economic interests.
Magosi expressed concern over the potential fallout from a proposed 10 percent blanket tariff on all imported goods by the United States, which threatens to undermine benefits enjoyed under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The AGOA program has granted many SADC nations duty-free access to the U.S. market, but its future remains uncertain as its renewal deadline in September approaches.
“These recent geopolitical developments should serve as a powerful wake-up call for our region, a call for us to unite, cooperate, and integrate more,” Magosi stated. He emphasized the need for the SADC bloc to define its trade terms and shape its destiny amidst diminishing traditional development support and changing tariff regimes.
Despite the establishment of the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) in 2008, intra-regional trade remains low—at just 18 percent. Magosi urged full implementation of the FTA to unlock the region’s economic potential and ensure enhanced market access for member states.
“SADC must fully leverage the gains from trade within the region to stimulate industrial growth, create jobs, and boost resilience,” he said.
SADC comprises 16 member states, including economic heavyweights like South Africa and resource-rich nations such as Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The bloc aims to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth through deeper regional integration.
As global trade dynamics shift, SADC’s ability to respond proactively and collectively may determine the region’s economic trajectory in the coming years.
