§ Mr. RathboneTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent talks he has had with European Union member counterparts to help establish for South Africa a free trade agreement into the European Union; and what the next steps towards such an agreement will be. [21593]
§ Mr. David DavisThe UK is in the lead in pressing for liberalisation of trade between the EU and South Africa. The negotiation mandate for an EU-South Africa free trade area was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Councils on 4 December, 29 January and 26 February. It will be on the agenda again at the Foreign Affairs Council on 25 to 26 March, when the UK will urge partners to agree a mandate which is compatible with World Trade Organisation rules and negotiable with the South Africans.