African trade minister in UK to push for deals after Brexit

Global Business

South Africa’s trade and industry minister Rob Davies was in the UK to push for a trade deal with UK after Brexit. South Africa was seeing an opportunity to deal directly with the UK to secure its fruit and wine exports, suggesting that UK was less complicated to deal with, compared to other EU countries.

CGTN’s Angelo Coppola reports. Follow Angelo Coppola on Twitter @angelo2711

South African fruit exports had been repeatedly blocked from the EU due to objections from farmers associations competing with South Africa. South African citrus exporters will be in a more favorable position when the U.K. finally separates from Europe. The U.K. doesn’t have its own orchards, and South African exporters would handle disease risks and associated costs.

There’s also the question of tariffs. Citrus tariffs were recently increased by the EU. With Britain’s move away from the continent, farmers in South Africa have high hopes for trading.

The wine industry in South Africa has also been on tender hooks. At stake for the wine exporters were 77 million liters of bottled exports and 33 million liters of bulk wine. This was negotiated as part of the Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU late last year.

The two sectors must wait for the British parliament to initiate the divorce to see any benfits. In the meanwhile, the development of a new trade frame work is in the hands of the British.