Meeting of the SACU Senior Trade Officials

The Meeting of the SACU Senior Trade Officials (STOs), chaired by the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition of South Africa, Ambassador Xolelwa Mlumbi-Peter, convened on 28–29 August 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa. In her opening remarks, the Chairperson urged SACU to strategically positioning itself by leveraging new policy opportunities, addressing protectionist measures and fast-tracking market diversification. She emphasised the importance of leveraging trade agreement reviews (e.g. SACU-MERCOSUR PTA, SACU EFTA FTA and AfCFTA) to SACU's advantage and conducting a global scan for market access opportunities.