Author:chris-hattingh
Lowering tariffs could help soften blow of higher container prices November 10, 2021 With the price of shipping, and shipping containers specifically, set to increase even more through 2022, South African consumers should prepare for higher prices of goods, components and materials. The government and Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) can help to soften at least some of that blow by lowering tariffs on imported goods, says CHRIS HATTINGH. The law of supply and demand means that the […]
Ports reform: Devil in the details October 13, 2021 In theory, our ports could be transformed. However, there are many questions that investors will ask before they commit – and those will largely be about control, says CHRIS HATTINGH. StatsSA recently announced that, by the end of Q2 2021, the economy had experienced its fourth consecutive quarter of growth: 1,2% in Q2. Taken within the broader context of the damage wrought by over a decade of misguided policies, and then […]
Will AfCFTA benefits be restricted to the politically connected? September 16, 2021 The Africa Continental Free Trade Area could potentially improve the economic prospects of millions of Africans. However, if African states pursue protectionist policies, the economic gains will be concentrated among the politically connected bigger market players. CHRIS HATTINGH says that, in South Africa specifically, we should abandon all ideas of localisation policies before they are even implemented. The International Trade Centre and United Nations Conference on Trade and […]
Independent ports authority: a step in the right direction August 19, 2021 President Ramaphosa recently announced that the Transnet National Ports Authority will become an independent subsidiary of Transnet and will be wholly owned by it. CHRIS HATTINGH says this is a step in the right direction – but more still needs to be done. Ramaphosa said that making the Authority independent “will create a clear separation between the roles of the infrastructure owner, which is the Transnet National Ports […]
Trade reforms needed to boost economic recovery August 19, 2021 To enable South Africans to rebuild as quickly as possible after the July riots, the government must implement pro-economic freedom reforms to ease the flow of goods and services and encourage capital (local and foreign) formation and investment. So says CHRIS HATTINGH. Billions of rands worth of damage were caused by violence and looting in mid-July. Major disruptions of supply chains and business activity resulted. According to the South African […]
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