Effects of Rules of Origin on Mozambique's IC in the context of SADC

This work is the result of the author's concern with the phenomenon of regional integration in SADC which has been widely publicized but little studied and was the culminating work for the author's degree course. Although there was a lot of talk about SADC regional integration between 2006 and 2008 with a lot of optimism about the process and in particular about joining the Free Trade Area the Rules of Origin were ignored to the point of being unknown by most of the main players. However in the context of regional integration such as SADC and in the phases preceding the Customs Union the Rules of Origin are an important instrument for regulating trade as they determine which products enjoy tariff and non-tariff benefits. For this reason and to the extent that the SADC's progressive Regional Integration project is still at a standstill in the Free Trade Area the effects of the Rules of Origin continue to be felt in Mozambique's trade with the region which makes their further study relevant.