South African has concluded that a lack of common ground has scuttled a fisheries agreement with the European Union, the chief director of international trade and negotiations, Tshediso Matona, told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday. ‘Business Day’ reported that in his briefing to the trade and industry committee, Matona said the EU insisted on being granted access to South African waters which the government had refused. “We would prefer that we jointly come to this conclusion and say to the world that we were unable to reach an agreement. My sense is that this will happen soon.” However, Matona said he believed an outstanding wines and spirit agreement would be finalised shortly.
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