While some countries have struggled to come to an agreement on the EPAs trade deal other are making some progress. “Four SADC configuration countries, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and Mozambique initialed an interim EPA on November 23rd 2007. According to the EC ‘the agreement allows for 100% liberalisation by value by the EU as of 1st January 2008’. Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland (BLNS) will be required to liberalise 86% of their imports from the EU (by value) ‘For 44 sensitive tariff lines liberalisation is envisaged by 2015. Three further lines will not be liberalised until 2018’.”

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