He also cited fears of cheap Chinese goods flooding the market due to decreased trading restrictions between African countries, saying that these would particularly affect South Africa’s clothing, sugar and poultry manufacturing. Parks added that car manufacturing could be another area hit hard by borderless trade.
Greater regional cooperation, before such a trade deal is made continent-wide, was necessary, Parks suggested.
Geographical trading blocs already exist in Africa, such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Customs Union (SACU). But, currently less than 20 percent of Africa’s trade is internal.
The trade agreement, if signed, would establish the largest free trade area in terms of participating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organisation. It is intended to encourage trade among African nations which is focussed on manufacturing, rather than exporting commodities to overseas markets.
“We’re pleased with Ramaphosa’s exercising of caution,” Parks said, adding that trade unions could enter into discussion with the president in the coming weeks.
“Economically (the deal) will benefit South Africa if it is done incrementally and in a way based upon integrated regional economic development, taking into account different countries’ economic vulnerabilities and needs, and that measures to protect Africa from a flood of cheap subsidized goods from China and elsewhere is included,” he added.
Speaking on last week’s summit in Kigali, Francois Conradie, the head of research at South Africa-based NKC African Economics, said that all the governments that attended are going to have to ratify those signatures by parliamentary process.
“Ramaphosa was just clearer about it, I think he didn’t want to open himself up to accusations from the protectionist left and the unions that he was acting unilaterally,” Conradie told CNBC via e-mail.
“South Africa probably has more to gain than other countries, but there needs to be a cautious and sensitive process,” Conradie said.
Other means of economic integration in Africa have been proposed by the African Union, including a pan-African passport, a single-air transport market and even a common currency.
“We must rid ourselves of this colonial mentality that demands we rely on other people’s currency. Perhaps the day, the hour and the moment could have arrived for us to create a single African currency,” Ramaphosa was quoted as saying by eNCA in Kigali last week.
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