SACU Research

African integration attach to the development of Africa, a growing number ofAfrican countries have recognized the importance and urgency for the unity. However,prerequisite to achieve African integration, each region or sub-region shouldcomplete economic integration first. The Southern African Customs Union(hereinafter referred to as “SACU”) is one of the most important sub-regionaleconomic organizations in the Africa, which was founded in1910and had over ahundred years of history, its economic integration performance is directly related tothe southern Africa development prospects. SACU was long-term controlled andutilized by British under the affect of colonialism. After the African national liberationmovement, SACU signed the1969agreement, but the South Africa racist governmenthas been controlled the SACU, the interests of the other weaker member states didnot be effectively protected. In the1990s, after the establishment of the new SouthAfrica, SACU began to re-negotiation and reached the2002agreement, then themember states began moving towards for the economic integration. Throughout theentire history of SACU development process, the South Africa took control the leagueand sought lasting domination, the other four weak members in a dependentposition but attempted to get rid of the control of South Africa. Over the years, theSACU adopted a model that unified tariff standards, unified tariffs sharing, unifiedforeign trade affairs coordination. In the case of South Africa’s dominance, this kindof "unity" concentrated heavily towards South Africa. While the other four countriesshare the “modest” customs from the SACU, which is precisely an important part fortheir revenue.According to the evolution of Southern African Customs Union, there is amainline that South Africa take control of the union while other small and weakcountries dependent and protest again South Africa. The author divided SACU historyinto three stages,1910-1969,1969-1994,1994to the present. Firstly, the preface ismainly majoring on the topics and research significance, the present research situation at home and abroad, research approaches, the structure and main point,tools for analysis, the innovation and information sources of this dissertation.Secondly, the following chapter discuss the early history evolution(1910-1969),medium-term history (1969-1994) and the late history (since1994). The dissertationalso analysis the contents and effects of《1910Southern African Customs UnionAgreement》,《1969Southern African Customs Union Agreement》and《2002Southern African Customs Union Agreement》.Beside, the author discuss the SACUexchange and interact with external actors, the cooperation with the European Union,the European Free Trade Association, the United States and the Mercosur as well asthe ongoing trade negotiations with India and China. At last, the author analysis themain achievements, problems future development prospects of SACU.The study found that early SACU is not the independent nation-state specificactions, British colonial authorities forced to piece together the economic union; itsoriginal purpose was British pursuit in southern Africa colonial interests rather thanthe development of the national economy. The1910agreement has seriousinequality and the agreement itself has colonial nature. The most notable feature ofthe early SACU is the dominance of South Africa and weakness of other countries.After《1969Southern African Customs Union Agreement》was signed, Botswana,Lesotho and Swaziland relied upon South Africa is a historical, structural existthroughout all aspects of the SACU affairs, South Africa dominance in the union stillsolid. Undeniably, during this period weak countries reduce dependence on SouthAfrica through their own efforts as well as external forces, they obtain much-neededfunds from the union and their level of economic development has made greatprogress. The new South Africa was found in1994, especially after the《2002Southern African Customs Union Agreement》was signed, SACU accelerate theintegration process and has made gratifying achievements in many respects. Theauthor believe that the agreement still can’t change the South Africa dominantinfluence, SACU faced with conflicts between different interest demands, thedistribution of power balance problems among different levels of developmentmember states. As a result, SACU needs to further substantive explore the road of how to solve the economic integration development issues. Finally, the conclusionsummarized the historical development process of SACU, pointing out that theprocess of its regional economic integration is in a low-level stage, it is still rangedbetween free trade areas and customs union, there is a gap to achieve the realcustoms union.