• Amid declining merchandise exports due to demand slowdown in the west, India is placing renewed focus on striking a trade deal with Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

ABOUT SACU

• The resource rich Southern African Customs Union (SACU), is a customs union among five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa.
• It is one of the largest suppliers of raw primary or semi-processed commodities.
• HQ: Windhoek (Namibia)
• It is the world’s oldest customs union which was established in 1910.
• The Economic structure of the Union links the Member states by a single tariff and no customs duties between them.
• Also there is a common external tariff that applies to nonmembers of SACU.