Negotiations with the SADC were launched in December 2004 and a joint road map was adopted to frame the negotiations. The initial priorities of the SADC EPA negotiations were Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards, Standards and Technical barriers to trade, Regional Integration, Market Access, rules of origin and customs facilitation. "A framework for the EPA Negotiations between SADC and EU" set out the principles, objectives and key elements for the EPA negotiations and has been considered by the EU and approved in February 2007 subject to conditions for market access for goods.

The negotiating parties of the SADC EPA have agreed that it will replace the TDCA agreement between the EU and South Africa when it comes into force, this will require South Africa to participate fully in the EPA. Signatories have also agreed on progressive abolishment of customs duties within the SACU on most goods (including agricultural goods with the exception of sugar) as well as increased customs cooperation. In SPS standards, agreements have been made to cooperate on a regional basis, however the commitments made are rather general. There have been significant challenges however, for the negotiations of the EPAs and currently only 5 of the 8 SADC EPA negotiating countries had signed an interim agreement. These were the BLNS countries and Mozambique. Namibia in particular has had major reservations about the EC proposed MFN provisions, proposals for a freeze of export levies and taxes which could be used as incentives for value addition, the abolition of internal quantitative restrictions on imports on the SACU agreement, free movement of goods within the SACU and provisions for the protection of infant industry, among others.

South Africa, the economic giant of the region, had initially chosen not to sign the interim agreement and instead to continue under the TDCA trade agreement with the EU. Among South Africa's concerns are the liberalization of trade in services and the elimination of export tariffs. The TDCA establishes a free-trade area mainly encompassing the movement of goods but also with some provisions for services, investment, government procurement, competition policy and IPR with the EU. Under the TDCA, the EU is required to eliminate tariffs on approximately 95% of goods currently imported from South Africa and South Africa on 86% of their imports from the EU. South Africa felt that the TDCA is a better deal for them. According to the South African government, trade has increased between the 2 regions by 50% since the adoption of the TDCA. This does, however, present a problem for other members of the SACU because, according to the rules of the customs union, the BNLS countries will be forced to reduce their tariffs to imports from the EU at the rate agree to by South Africa in the TDCA. Angola has also chosen not to sign the interim EPA but will continue duty free access to the EU market under the EBA.

Market access for European goods into the SADC has been slow to progress and the SADC countries are calling for more technical assistance in implementing the reforms and cooperation necessary for the successful conclusion of the EPA. Other major concerns of the SADC negotiators are the removal of interior barriers to trade and export taxes and the scope of the competition and procurement clauses.

South Africa, Angola and Namibia sent a joint letter to the EU member states on January 7, 2009 outlining the changes that they feel need to be made before signing the EPA. Negotiations continue on a full EPA in 2009. Eight out of the ten most contentious issues of the SADC EPA were resolved at meetings of the SADC and EU in Swakopmund on March 9-11, 2009. Disagreement remains on the Commission’s inclusion of the ‘Most Favored Nation’ clause in the draft EPA as well as over whether the EPA can be signed by each member of the SADC negotiating group or whether this must be done by SADC as a whole. South Africa is particularly concerned with both of these outstanding issues and the Commission has indicated that it may proceed with the SADC EPA without South Africa.

• Statement by Banny K. Molosiwa, Permanent Secretary for Trade and Industry, Ministry for Trade and Industry, Botswana
• Statement by the South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Mandisi Mpahlwa on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Negotiations
• Text of the Interim EPA
• Website of the SADC