South Africa stalls on Lomé

03 September 1997

South Africa stalls on Lomé

SOUTH Africa has postponed its entry to the Lomé Convention.

Pretoria and Brussels agreed in April that any South African products
contained in exports from Lomé members would qualify for a zero tariff only on
an ad hoc basis, case by case.

Now South Africa says it does not subscribe to, or even understand, “the ad hoc nature of cumulation”.

The confusion threatens economic ties between the nation and the 70 states
that comprise the African, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries.

The South African parliament hopes to resolve the issue before Lomé comes
into effect. At least 32 countries are still to ratify.