Government has received flak from well-known trade researcher and trade activist Wallie Roux on international trade policies as well as on some trade decisions made since independence. Roux underlined government's “very lackadaisical approach” towards the finalisation of outstanding issues in the SACU Agreement and the dismal handling of the impasse between small stock farmers and abattoirs.

Roux was one of the influential decision makers contacted by the Economist last week to give his thoughts on government's performance - both economic and political - in the last 18 years of independence.
In his assessment of the government's economic and trade policies, Roux said he was disappointed by government's failure to consult with the private sector before it decided on policy matters that affected the entire economy.
“The government's handling of [small stock producers versus Abattoir Association of Namibia] case was, and still is, dismal in finding a mutual solution. The case was merely reflected back to the producers and AAN to find a solution. To date these still is a reigning stalemate,” said Roux.
Roux was referring to the so-called Weck Report, which indicated that little value addition is done and that abattoirs are paying very little to small stock producers than the real value of the animals sold.
Roux is not foreign to controversy. He raked up publicity last year through his vocal participation in the Economic Partnership Agreement debate.
But government's failure in  trade and economic 'subjects', said Roux, started a long time ago with the SACU free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association. The trend continued with negotiations for the Preferential Trade Agreement with Mercosur.
“Here the government involved the private sector, but last minute decisions "in national interest" went against the wishes of the private sector when consent was given to Paraguay and Uruguay to export small quantities of frozen beef into the SACU market,” said Roux.
The decision was done in exchange for South African industrial market access to Mercosur, which includes such countries as Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.
“Another worrying aspect as far as SACU is concerned, is the fact that Member States do not regularly engage in negotiations (especially on a political level) to discuss and find common ground on issues of mutual interest. This is specifically evident in their approach with regards to trade agreements with third parties,” said Roux.