An analysis of the impact of covid-19 on trade relations among SACU member states: A case study of Namibia

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the weightiest catastrophes of this time thus, the social and economic impact of the crisis has been upsetting, and consequences will continue to be revealed in years to come. The study aimed to investigate and analyse the impact of COVID-19 on trade relations among SACU Member States: a case study of Namibia. This was done by ascertaining the impact, analysing the extent to which COVID-19 has impacted trade relations among SACU Member States, ascertaining how severe were Namibia’s trade relations impacted by COVID-19 as well as deriving possible measures and recommendations to enhance trade relations among SACU Member States during this era and any other similar circumstances or related outbreaks that might occur in the future. A qualitative research design was employed where data were collected from the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade (MIT), Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (MIRCO), and SACU Member States’ head office in Windhoek, Namibia, due to their alignments to trading-related through open-ended interviews and structured questionnaires. It was revealed that the pandemic had impacted trade relations among SACU Member States in several ways such as closing down of their borders and restricting the movements of people and trading thus, the movement of goods was affected by the strict measures put in place leading to impacts on trade relations among Member States. The study further revealed that even though the impact was sensed globally, SACU Member States were economically severely affected compared to other parts of Africa or the world. Moreover, all SACU Member States have similar economic powers and had similar restrictions put in place thus, they were partially equally affected in terms of trading. These findings indicate the need for SACU Member States to be self-sustainable as a region to maintain itself even in critical moments in order to maintain international trade relations. Significantly, this has stimulated many vulnerable countries to re-design their tactical action plans in terms of self-sustainability as concerned states or regions by considering economic development as a cornerstone for all.