You’ve made the sale, the goods are ready, the customer is waiting, and then you get to the question that can completely change the deal: how much is this shipment going to cost once it crosses the border? Tariffs, duties, customs and compliance can quickly turn what looked like a profitable international order into a much more expensive one. But here’s the interesting part: what if that tariff is not necessarily something you simply have to absorb? What if there are trade agreements that could give your business access to preferential or even duty-free treatment?
For South African businesses looking to export, understanding these agreements could make a real difference to the final price of getting goods into the hands of a customer. From AGOA and its access to the US market, to arrangements through SACU, SADC and agreements with markets such as the European Union and the United Kingdom, there are opportunities available, but they come with rules around the product, its origin, classification and documentation. Joining us is Francoius Coetzee, Managing Director of RSA Global