Mozambique–Zimbabwe Preferential Trade Agreement and SADC

Trade agreements among SADC member as well as with third parties raise many issues of consistency with SADC obligations. A number of statements and papers have raised the consistency of Zimbabwe’s PTAs with Mozambique and Zambia as an issue. The issues facing Mozambique are not unique, even though other SADC members may not yet recognize these same issues in their own arrangements. SADC contains a “best endeavor” obligation to coordinate matters involving third parties, and broad institutional mechanisms to address issues. SADC members must try to agree on interpretations and application and, through cooperation and consultation, to arrive at a mutually satisfactory agreement.