16-17 September EU-South Africa talks

Date: 24/09/1998

NEGOTIATIONS on a trade and cooperation agreement between the EU and South Africa broke off after two days because of a deadlock over farm trade concessions and wines and spirits.

SOUTH Africa's ambassador to the EU, Elias Links, said it was impossible to continue the negotiations because the Union had refused to make a new offer of better access for South African farm products including cheese, milk, flowers and fresh and processed fruit. “The position has been a very hardline one from their side,” he claimed.

THE European Commission said it could not present a new proposal until the problem of South Africa using the trade names 'port' and 'sherry' had been resolved. Chief negotiator Philip Lowe insisted the Commission “cannot logically go forward to sign an overall agreement on trade and cooperation without clarity on a number of points in the wines and spirits sector”.

THE two sides also reached an impasse over a separate fisheries agreement. The EU wanted greater access to South African fish stocks in return for more access to the Union's markets and financial aid to help modernise the South African fleet. But Pretoria was not happy with the proposal. “It's not in South Africa's interests to open up fisheries resources in return for market access,” said Bahle Sibisi, the country's chief director of foreign trade relations, highlighting the need for conservation.