EU coy over SADC EPA deadline

Speaking during the launch of the Afena press club in Gaborone on Tuesday, Trade and industry minister Dorcas Makgato-Malesu said that they are hopeful the EU bloc will allow trade to continue until all SADC member states have initialed the deal.

In April, SADC ministers led by Makgato-Malesu lobbied the EU-Africa Summit for an extension of the deadline as the two blocs push to thrash a deal ahead of the October deadline set by the EU for the completion of key trade talks.