The objectives of the SADC trade agreement are:

1. To further liberalise intra-regional trade in goods and services on the basis of fair, mutually equitable and beneficial trade arrangements, complemented by Protocols in other areas
2. To ensure efficient production within SADC reflecting the current and dynamic comparative advantages of its Members
3. To contribute towards the improvement of the climate for domestic, cross-border and foreign investment
4. To enhance the economic development, diversification and industrialisation of the Region
5. To establish a Free Trade Area in the SADC Region.

More specifically, the agreement aims to:

• Eliminate barriers to intra-SADC trade
• Eliminate import duties based on a phased approach
• Eliminate all export duties
• Eliminate non-tariff barriers
• Apply no new quantitative import restrictions
• Eliminate quantitative export restrictions

More information about the SADC trade agreement

• SADC website
• SADC Treaty and Protocols Concerning the Rules of Origin for products to be traded between the Member States of SADC
• Consolidated text of the SADC Free Trade Agreement
• SADC – Wikipedia