No Cliff Edge

Outgoing high commissioner sees better post ­brexit trade deal for SA. 

- Terence Creamer

 Outgoing British High Commissioner to South Africa Dame Judith Macgregor says there will be no “cliff edge” in the trade and investment relationship between the UK and South Africa when Britain leaves the European Union (EU), arguing that there is even potential to strengthen the relationship both bilaterally and through a revitalised Commonwealth.

Speaking at a South African Institute of International Relations event ahead of her retirement at the end of March, Macgregor said it was too early to outline the precise mechanisms for ensuring that “no gaps” emerged in a trade relationship that is currently governed by the recently ratified Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and six Southern African countries, including South Africa.

However, she said there was a com­mitment from both sides to sustained “EPA­like” terms in the immediate aftermath of Brexit, whereafter the intention was to negotiate an enhanced trade and investment relationship.

“All I can say at the moment is that the aim is not to go backwards from that and not to agree on anything that would be worse for South Africa than the EPA.”

Similar sentiments have been expressed by South Africa’s Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies who reported recently that an in­principle understanding had been reached that there would be no damage to existing trade and investment relations as a result of Brexit.

“We also agreed that the legal com­mitments under the EPA with the EU, including the UK, will continue to be the basis for our bilateral trade in the immediate future and that those com­mitments would be carried over into any new arrangement in future.