World Bank2024-08-082024-08-082024-08-08https://hdl.handle.net/10986/42024International trade can be a powerful force for economic growth and poverty reduction. This report aims to support policy dialogue with the government of South Africa on trade. It explores reforms to promote trade that can support robust, inclusive, and green economic growth following years of unprecedented supply-chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing uncertainties related to increasing geopolitical tensions and climate change. This was done by synthesizing a series of analyses carried out by a World Bank team in collaboration with South African academics and other stakeholders. It complements the existing and extensive literature on improving trade and investment outcomes in South Africa and strengthening private sector competitiveness. The report provides an overview of South Africa’s export performance over the past decade for both goods and services by using a wide variety of data sources and analytical tools. It also proposes a series of recommendations on how the country can improve its trade competitiveness, with a focus on using new trade agreements and other opportunities for diversification; improving trade facilitation and addressing non-tariff barriers; and increasing the capabilities of local firms to become exporters and diversify products and markets. Institutional changes to effectively implement these reforms are also discussed.en-USCC BY-NC 3.0 IGOPRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENTPRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT FOR PPPINTERNATIONAL REMITTANCESTRADE AGREEMENTS AND NEGOTIATIONSCORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTHSDG 8ReportWorld Bank10.1596/42024