India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) sign Terms of Reference (ToR) for negotiations towards a Preferential Trade Agreement

On 12 August 2026, India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) signed a Terms of Reference (ToR) at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, to commence negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). The ToR outlines eight chapters covering trade in goods, market access, rules of origin, customs procedures, trade remedies, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers, dispute settlement and legal provisions. Union Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted India’s potential role in supplying affordable medicines, IT talent and integrating SACU economies into global supply chains, while stressing the need for a balanced, development‑oriented outcome. The signing marks India’s first ToR with the African region and aims to deepen South‑South cooperation.