On 5 November 2002 the United States and the countries of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU)  - Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland - announced that they would begin negotiations towards a free trade agreement.  This agreement would build upon economic relations fostered under the 2000 U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

In January 2003 a plan was set out for the upcoming negotiations. Negotiations were launched in Pretoria, South Africa on 2 June 2003. The second round of negotiations was held in Johannesburg in August 2003; the third round was held in Washington D.C. in October 2003; the fourth round in Walvis Bay, Namibia in February 2004 and the fifth round in Atlanta Georgia in June 2004. Negotiations were suspended in April 2006. In November 2006, the United States and SACU agreed to pursue a trade and investment and development cooperation agreement that could lead to a possible FTA in the longer term. The United States-Southern African Customs Union Trade, Investment and Development Cooperation Agreement (TIDCA) was signed on 16 July 2008.

Documents relating to the negotiations
16 July 2008	U.S. and SACU sign Trade, Investment and Cooperation Agreement
18 April 2006	U.S. and SACU agree to pursue concrete steps to deepen trade and investment relations
6 December 2004	USTR to travel to Sub-Saharan Africa
13 January 2003	U.S., SACU agree on roadmap
5 November 2002	Letter to Senate notifying Congress of Intent to Negotiate FTA with SACU
5 November 2002	Letter to House notifying Congress of Intent to Negotiate FTA with SACU
2000	African Growth and Opportunity Act
Source: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)

• The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)