Regional Negotiations among SADC Member States
The SADC trade in services programme was launched in Maseru, Lesotho in 2000. In 2001, Ministers of Trade agreed on six sectors (communication, construction, energy related, financial services, tourism and transport services) to be a priority for the SADC services programme. A Draft Protocol on trade in Services was adopted by Ministers of Trade in July 2009, and will be presented for signature after clearance by Ministers of Justice/Attorneys General.
The Draft Protocol on Trade in Services contains general obligations on Memebr States, such as on transparency, granting of most favourite nation status, and domestic regulation, but does not by itself result for any market access for SADC service suppliers. Instead, it provides a framework for progressive removal of barriers to trade in services, initially in six priority sectors (communication services, construction services, energy-related services, financial services, tourism services and transport services).
Ministers of Trade, at their meeting in November, 2011 approved the commencement of the negotiations on the liberalization commitments in the six priority sectors. The first negotiating meeting is scheduled for 2- 4 April 2012. During this meeting, Member States are expected to develop a roadmap for the negotiations and agree on the organization of the negotiations.