THE United States has pledged $2-million to southern Africa to develop trade and monitor the AIDS epidemic and environment, a Southern African Development Community (SADC) official said on Wednesday. Representatives of the 14-nation SADC and Washington signed an agreement Tuesday on the funds at the regional body’s headquarters in Gaborone, the spokesman said. The agreement commits the United States to funding experts to advise SADC on the free trade protocol which aims to reduce trade tariffs between southern African countries within eight years of being adopted. The protocol has been ratified by seven countries and needs one more ratification before it is put into action. Certain tariff reductions will start from January. The United States will also provide training to help SADC create “the laws necessary to attract investors and thus new employers to southern Africa,” a statement said.