Namibia urged to prioritize local industries in trade deals
Namib Mills’ trade specialist Arwil Viviers says Namibia should be wary of ratifying trade agreements that may limit the growth of certain industries in future, and place its domestic needs ahead.
Viviers made the comments during a Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) engagement and said while the intent may appear positive, it was important for Namibia to tend to its own needs first.
“In terms of international trade, it is very important that we start aligning ourselves to the needs of our country and not just blindly going into trade agreements and then isolating some industries,” he said.
Viviers cautioned against the blanket imposing of tariffs, saying it could affect the price of production particularly for manufacturing.
“We should get a trade policy that incentivizes manufacturing locally, by lowering tariffs on raw materials. First of all, we should not give away certain industries just because it does not exist today; can it exist in 10-years or 15-years time? The landscape can change quite drastically,” Viviers said.
“We need to take a longer look into the future when we are negotiating trade policy first of all, secondly, we should not over-burden ourselves with tariffs,” he added.
According to Viviers, it was paramount for both government and the private sector to engage each other on matters relating to trade policy.
“We need to marry the public sector and the private sector in terms of trade policy,” Viviers said.
Viviers made the comments during a Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) engagement and said while the intent may appear positive, it was important for Namibia to tend to its own needs first.
“In terms of international trade, it is very important that we start aligning ourselves to the needs of our country and not just blindly going into trade agreements and then isolating some industries,” he said.
Viviers cautioned against the blanket imposing of tariffs, saying it could affect the price of production particularly for manufacturing.
“We should get a trade policy that incentivizes manufacturing locally, by lowering tariffs on raw materials. First of all, we should not give away certain industries just because it does not exist today; can it exist in 10-years or 15-years time? The landscape can change quite drastically,” Viviers said.
“We need to take a longer look into the future when we are negotiating trade policy first of all, secondly, we should not over-burden ourselves with tariffs,” he added.
According to Viviers, it was paramount for both government and the private sector to engage each other on matters relating to trade policy.
“We need to marry the public sector and the private sector in terms of trade policy,” Viviers said.
