Namibia's hopes for new beef markets remain unclear

Namibia's pursuits of alternative markets for beef products other than the EU remain unknown.

Independent international trade consultant, Wallie Roux, when asked on the current status quo, simply said the "current status quo is as is with no clear alternative in sight".

Namibia's choice for alternative markets are the US, Finland and China; reaching a favourable position on the European Partnership Agreement (EPA) appears to be diminishing.

However, the beef industry is not limited to the three markets, and Namibia's Meat Board earlier asked traders to find ways of diverting 50% of their entire trade to other markets other than the EU.

Finland has already come to the play, throwing its support behind the Meat Board's diversification initiative, through a study on the potential of organic meat production as well as feasibility study for organic meat markets in Namibia. The Finnish government funds the study. The US has also indicated openness to the possibility of buying Namibian beef, but a concrete agreement has remained elusive.

Namibia's past trade relation with the EU has ensured the selling of nearly 14,000 tonnes of beef, at an estimated annual value of between NAD 2 billion (US$0.26 billion) and NAD 3 billion (US$0.40 billion).

However, the actual effects of Namibia's refusal to sign the EPA would only come to the fore in the period of 2011 and 2012, when Namibia would start to give way to international trade law pressure.

Namibia would have to weigh the benefits and disadvantages to determine the extent of her involvement in the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement between South Africa and the EU, of which benefits are accrued as a member of the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU).

Currently, the country's exports to the EU are safe as the European Commission is committed to resolve the issues raised, and any other that would be raised by Namibia regarding the EPA agreement.