Trade and Economic Co-operation

The Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) has strengthened the trade relationships between the European Union and South Africa, consolidating SA as one of Europe's preferred trading partners through the establishment of a free trade area (Title II of the TDCA). For a useful summary of the text of the Agreement, visit:
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/r12201.htm 

The implementation of the TDCA between South Africa and the European Union is overseen by the Joint Co-operation Council, which also acts as a forum for overall dialogue between the two parties, including trade-related aspects. Co-operation Council meetings are held annually. The first SA-EU Ministerial meeting following full entry into force of the TDCA and the enlargement of the EU was held on 23 November 2004 in Brussels. The The sixth Co-operation Council meeting took place in Brussels on 7 November, 2005; the seventh  Joint Co-operation Council was held in Brussels on 14 November 2006.

Other agreements

In addition to the TDCA, separate agreements on wines and spirits were signed on 28 January 2002. These agreements - which are applied provisionally - provide for the reciprocal protection of wine and spirits names, and cover issues such as oenological practices and processes, and product specifications

Current negotiations – Economic Partnership Agreements

Following the request by the SADC-EPA group, the EU Council of Ministers, meeting in Brussels on 12 February 2007, accepted to include South Africa in the negotiations for the conclusion of an EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/countries/southafrica/pr140207_en.htm