AFRICA TRADE BILL TALKS

TALKS between the Southern African Development Community and the United States on the United States’ Africa Growth and Opportunity Bill are due to get under way in the Botswana capital Gaborone next week. A two-day talk shop led by US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Stuart Eizenstat, will bring together businessmen from virtually all the 14 SADC member states. The Africa Trade Bill is a product of President Bill Clinton’s tour of Africa last year and proposes to give access to US markets to Southern African countries perceived to be making progress towards free market economies and transparency in government.