1. Trade in Road freight services in sadc: THE ROLE OF THE REGULATORS
September

2. Structure of Presentation
The current regulatory environment
The role of regulators in trade in services negotiations?
Capacity to evaluate economic and trade interests?
Conclusion

3. The institutional framework
Government as policy maker and regulator
(Botswana, Malawi and Mozambique)
Independent regulator
(Namibia)

4. The policy framework Malawi and Namibia Mozambique Botswana
Emphasizes de-regulation and competition
Mozambique
Emphasizes infrastructure and training
Botswana
In process

5. The legal framework Comprehensive Reasonably recent Regulations
Permits
Reasonably recent
With the exception of the Botswana Road Traffic Act

6. Services negotiations
Service negotiations specifically try to remove unnecessary barriers to trade
Trade liberalization does not automatically result in increases in welfare
Effective regulation and effective regulators are required to ensure that socially and economically equitable outcomes are achieved
Timing and sequencing matters

7. Services negotiations – the role of the regulator in SADC
Barriers to trade in road freight transport are generally well known
There is insufficient awareness of the potential contribution and impact of formal services negotiations
The level of interaction between regulators and trade negotiators is generally low

8. Services negotiations – what should be done?
Transport regulators should be included in consultations in trade in road freight services from an early stage
Regulators need to be become familiar with the scope and structure of trade in services negotiations
The wider economic implications of regional trade and trade liberalisation in road freight services need to be understood

9. Capacity for trade and economic analysis?
People and skills?
Information and analysis?

10. Conclusion
Participation by regulators in trade in services negotiations will ensure that future trade rules are responsive to the specific context and needs of their countries
Regulators will also need to provide feedback to negotiators on reasonable timelines for the implementation of new rules and regulations and examine the possible implications of regulatory change on the industry
To do so, regulators may need to improve their capacity to undertake transport specific economic analysis