What is the EBA?

The “Everything but Arms”(EBA) scheme is a permanent arrangement covering Least Developed Countries (LDC’s) as classified by the United Nations. This arrangement enables duty-free and quota-free access for all products (7200 products in total) originating in LDC’s except for arms and ammunition. Different from the Standard GSP and GSP+, LDC’s are not excluded from the scheme if they benefit from other preferential arrangements.

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10,91 M

Population

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Presidential Republic

Government

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-10,8% (2015)

GDP Growth

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13.60%

Inflation

money

$ 12,00 B (2015)

GDP

Facts about South Sudan's economy

Landlocked Economy

South Sudan is a landlocked economy in east-central Africa and only gained independence in 2011. Most of the territory is covered in tropical forest, swamps, and grassland. Most of the population lives in rural areas and depends on subsistence farming.

Export Products

South Sudan's by far most important export product are mineral products like petroleum oils, followed by tropical wood, ground nuts as well as machinery and mechanical appliances, onions and scrap iron.

Trade Partners

South Sudan's most important trading partners are Uganda and China with shares between 35.2% and 20.8%. China and the EU are the most important export markets for Sudanese products. Most imports originate from Uganda and Kenya.

Economic Structure

The petroleum industry is the cornerstone of South Sudan's economy and oil rents regularly contribute about 40% to the country's GDP, making it one of the most oil dependent countries in the world. The remaining industrial activity remains small and is hampered by lacking infrastructure. The agricultural sector mainly serves subsistence purposes. Important crops are sorghum, corn, millet, rice, and cassava. Peanuts are the most important cash crop.

Usage of EBA Preferences

South Sudan did not take advantage of EBA preferences between 2018 and 2022.

Trade with the EU

Total trade with the EU amounted to € 201 million in 2022. With a share of 11.1 % of overall trade, the EU is the third largest trade partner of South Sudan.

South Sudan and the EU (2022)

Imports from South Sudan by product section

Imports from South Sudan over time (in € m)

SOUTH SUDAN AND THE EU’s GSP

Economic Impact

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Only a tiny share of South Sudan's exports are eligible for preferences granted by the EU's EBA.

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South Sudan currently does not make use of preferences granted under the EU's EBA.

Preference utilisation and export diversification

South Sudan's imports to the EU

Preference Utilisation vs. total eligible imports

Despite a substantial increase in overall EU imports from South Sudan in recent years, the EBA beneficiary does not make use of the preferences granted by the arrangement. Only a small share of imports from South Sudan are eligible for duty suspensions under the EBA, including for example machinery and transport equipment. A number of other products imported from South Sudan such as minerals and nuts already benefit from zero most-favoured-nation duties.

The largest product sections under EBA

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The preferential access to the EU market granted by the EBA scheme is not bound to the ratification of international conventions. Nonetheless, South Sudan has ratified 3 core UN conventions on human rights and 7 out of 8 ILO labour rights conventions. Furthermore, South Sudan has ratified 3 environmental protection conventions and the UN Convention against Corruption.

Core international conventions on human rights and labour standards

Ratified

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1981)
Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1987)
Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990)
Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour, No 29 (1930)
Convention concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively, No 98 (1949)
Convention concerning Equal Remuneration of Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value, No 100 (1951)
Convention concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour, No 105 (1957)
Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation, No 111 (1958)
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, No 138 (1973)
Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, No 182 (1999)

Not Ratified

Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948)
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969)
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1976)
International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (1976)
Convention concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, No 87 (1948)

Additional Conventions

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973)
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987)
Convention on Biological Diversity (1992)
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992)
United Nations Convention against Corruption (2004)

EU-South Sudan Bilateral Development Assistance

DG INTPA

Access all info about EU-South Sudan relations on the International Partnerships website: https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/countries/south-sudan_en

Opportunities in South Sudan

Security situation stabilised with the signing of the peace agreement in September 2018
Promising economic prospects over the medium term driven by resumed oil production