scholarly journals The economic costs of restraint of trade agreements: modest lessons for South Africa from Germany and other selected jurisdictions

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Musiiwa Mahangwahaya ◽  
Lonias Ndlovu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Restraint Of Trade

scholarly journals Joint Initiatives Instead of Multilateralism: A New Reality for the WTO?

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 167-186
Author(s):  
O. V. Biryukova
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Active Part ◽  
Trading System ◽  
Joint Statement ◽  
International Trading ◽  
Near Future ◽  
International Trading System

The article examines the complexities of the negotiation function of the WTO, in which consensus in decision-making plays an important role. The author systematizes the possibilities and limitations for incorporating the results of plurilateral negotiations (i.e., with a limited number of participants) held within the framework of the so-called joint statement initiatives into the organization's law. The article also analyzes the prospects for integrating specific joint initiatives (internal regulation in services, simplification of investments in development, e-commerce) into the WTO system. The article emphasizes that despite standard features, all initiatives are unique in their content, format, and history and are at different stages of readiness, for Russia, which takes an active part in these joint initiatives, bringing the negotiations to a conclusion. The article criticizes joint initiatives from their primary opponents (India and South Africa), who insist that plurilateral initiatives' participation ignores existing multilateral mandates reached by consensus. Thus, they destroy the multilateral system.The purpose of the article is to review conceptual and practical approaches to forming new trade rules in the WTO system in the context of the multilateral crisis. The author concludes that plurilateral agreements can become a way out of the crisis in the negotiation function of the WTO, as well as the basis for future trade agreements in the system of organization. However, for plurilateralism to be effective and sustainable, it must be linked to multilateral norms and principles. Any plurilateral approach must allow flexibility in forming the basis for negotiating trade rules at multilateral level. It seems that if in the near future the WTO does not take decisive actions to adjust the rules and procedures for the new agreements, the prospects for advancing negotiations and maintaining the relevance of the leading institution of the international trading system will become even bleaker.

scholarly journals Understanding the factors influencing rill erosion on roadcuts in the south eastern region of South Africa

Solid Earth ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 633-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. E. Seutloali ◽  
H. R. Beckedahl
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Site Effects ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Rill Erosion ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Slope Gradient ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. Erosion on roadcuts is a concern due to the potential of causing environmental degradation, which has significant economic costs. It is therefore critical to understand the relationship between roadcut characteristics and soil erosion for designing roadcuts that are less vulnerable to erosion and to help road rehabilitation works. This study investigated the characteristics (i.e. gradient, length, percentage of vegetation cover and soil texture) of degraded (i.e. with rills) and non-degraded roadcuts (i.e. without rills) and explored the relationship of the roadcut characteristics with the dimensions (widths and depths) of the rills. Degraded roadcuts were steep (52.21°), long (10.70 m) and had a low percentage of vegetation cover (24.12) when compared to non-degraded roadcuts which had a gradient of 28.24°, length of 6.38 m and 91.7% of vegetation cover. Moreover, the gradient and percentage of vegetation cover of the roadcut significantly determine the rill dimensions. The widths and depths of the rills increase with the increase in slope gradient and decrease with an increase in percentage of vegetation cover. Moreover, the widths and depths of the rills decreased downslope of the roadcuts. Based on these results, re-vegetation of roadcuts as well as construction of gentle gradients could minimise rill erosion and hence the negative on-site and off-site effects.

scholarly journals Services liberalization in the new generation of preferential trade agreements (PTAs): how much further than the GATS?

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN ROY ◽  
JUAN MARCHETTI ◽  
HOE LIM
Keyword(s):  
Active Role ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
The United States ◽  
Preferential Trade Agreements ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Preferential Trade ◽  
Mode 3 ◽  
New Generation

AbstractThis paper attempts to fill a gap in the trade literature by providing a comprehensive overview of services liberalization commitments in the new generation of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) as compared to prevailing GATS commitments and Doha Round offers. The paper reviews the commitments undertaken by 36 WTO Members (counting the EC as one) under mode 1 (cross-border supply) and mode 3 (commercial presence) in 32 PTAs negotiated since 2000. Among other things, the results suggest that, overall, PTA commitments tend to go significantly beyond GATS offers. Countries that have signed PTAs with the United States have made spectacular improvements, but GATS+ commitments are not limited to such agreements. The paper also discusses the potential economic costs arising from these preferential agreements and implications for the role of GATS and for multilateral services negotiations. The paper concludes by exploring possible approaches to overcome the downsides of services PTAs, including suggestions for a more pro-active role for the WTO in the surveillance of these agreements.

scholarly journals The Economic Cost of Smoking in South Africa, 2016

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micheal Kofi Boachie ◽  
Laura Rossouw ◽  
Hana Ross
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
South African ◽  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Productivity Losses ◽  
Premature Deaths

Abstract Introduction Chronic, noncommunicable diseases are on the rise globally, with tobacco consumption being an important contributing risk factor. These increases result in significant economic costs due to increased healthcare costs, productive lives lost, and productive days lost due to illness. Estimates of these economic costs are scarce in low- and middle-income countries. Methods Drawing on a diverse range of data sources, direct healthcare costs, and productivity losses due to illness and premature deaths were estimated using the cost-of-illness approach. The present value of lifetime earnings was used to estimate productivity losses from premature deaths. Results We estimate that 25 708 deaths among persons aged 35–74 in 2016 are smoking-attributable. The economic cost of smoking was R42 billion (US$2.88 billion), of which R14.48 billion was for healthcare costs (hospitalization and outpatient department visits). The economic cost of smoking amounted to 0.97% of the South African GDP in 2016, while the healthcare cost of smoking-related diseases was 4.1% of total South African health expenditure. The costs are lower for women because of their lower smoking prevalence. Conclusion The economic burden of smoking calls for a further scaling-up of tobacco-control interventions in South Africa. Implications This article addresses the paucity of research on the detailed economic costs of smoking in low-and middle-income countries, including South Africa. Our calculations, based on an extensive range of recent data, provide the most detailed estimate to date and include quantification of the direct and indirect costs of smoking in South Africa. We found that the magnitude of the costs related to smoking in South Africa is larger than in the previous estimates and that for every Rand received in the form of cigarette tax, society loses 3.43 Rands. This article provides an economic case for evidence-based tobacco control in South Africa.

scholarly journals Determinants of South Africa’s Orange Trade Flows in the Top European and Asian Importing Countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Luyolo Matolo ◽  
Li Zhemin ◽  
Yu Wen ◽  
Huang Min
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Gravity Model ◽  
Market Share ◽  
Trade Agreements ◽  
Trade Flows ◽  
The World ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Significant Factors

<p class="NoSpacing1">South Africa orange exporters have for a long time enjoyed a sizeable market share in many parts of the world. A large portion of that sizeable market share can be located in the European countries then followed by fast developing countries in Asia. This market share can be associated with a declining South African currency compared to the values of these major currencies. On the other hand a number of trade agreements that have been reached by South Africa and these countries over the years have also contributed handsomely in the mentioned market share. Furthermore, diets of consumers in these countries have as well contributed in the conquered market share. Although a number of studies have been conducted on the subject of South Africa’s declining currency and the established trade agreements on products with mixed magnitudes in influencing trade flows, further research is needed for a better understanding on the trade determinants patterns in specific products. This paper focuses on the determinants of South Africa’s orange trade in the top European and Asian importing countries. In order to understand these trade determinants, gravity model has been applied to identify and analyze significant factors encouraging or discouraging the quantities/volumes of oranges exported to the above mentioned countries. Findings have shown that over the reviewed period, South Africa’s orange exports to the European market have been consistence, while exports to Asian market started slow and gradually increased over the years. Gravity model estimated coefficients also showed expected signs.</p>

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