Describes bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that this country is party to, including with the United States. Includes websites and other resources where U.S. companies can get more information on how to take advantage of these agreements.
Last Published: 8/5/2019

Various regional and international trade agreements facilitate access to export markets in Africa and overseas. Through such arrangements as the Cotonou Agreement, Swati products are generally granted preferential access to all of the world's important markets, including the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Australia. The Southern Africa Development Community’s (SADC) ongoing trade negotiations with the EU, when finalized, will increase Swati trade in this arena, as will U.S. free trade negotiations with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).  

Eswatini is currently a member state of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The Preferential Trade Area agreements for Eastern and Southern Africa grant Swati goods and services preferential access to a market of over 250 million people.
The SADC Trade Protocol came into force in January 2000.  This initiative is strongly supported by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the African Development Bank. Under SADC, a company with operations in Eswatini can supply the entire SADC region with minimal export controls.  SADC is made up of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Eswatini, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Eswatini membership in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) (with Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa), allows for duty-free exchange of goods to a market of 45 million people. Goods from outside the Union require an import permit. Member countries receive due shares of the customs pool generated by commodities imported from outside the SACU. Customs revenue continues to be a major component of Swati government receipts, accounting for an estimated 55 percent of total revenue. The Renegotiated SACU Agreement came into effect in July 2004.  The new agreement revises the revenue sharing formula, possibly decreasing the percentage of Eswatini’s revenue derived from customs revenue.

Eswatini is a signatory of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The GATT Agreement affects Swati industry through its membership in SACU.  To meet GATT obligations, South Africa, on behalf of SACU, has submitted schedules for the gradual reduction of tariffs for some commodity imports.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.