Dr Ron Sandrey is Research Associate at the Centre for Chinese Studies, Senior Research 

Fellow at the Trade Law Centre of Southern Africa tralac, and a Professor Extraordinary at 

the Department of Agricultural Economics, all based at Stellenbosch University. Dr Sandrey 

previously has spent fifteen years with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade MFAT of 

New Zealand as Specialist Economist, and also at the New Zealand Treasury, and the 

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries as Chief Research Economist. Dr Sandrey received his 

PhD in Economics from the Oregon State University and has also lectured economics at 

Lincoln University. 

Since coming to Africa Dr Sandrey has researched and written extensively on a wide range of 

trade and agricultural-related issues. Currently much of his work focus is on researching the 

trading relationships between South Africa SACU and China and India. A book on these is 

‘in print’ as of January 2009, and this book includes a comprehensive analysis of current 

trade, a computer simulation analysis of future prospects under an FTA and a study of nontariff 

issues. It updates and extends the quantitative analysis undertaken during 2006-07 that 

culminated in the book ‘South Africa’s way ahead: trade policy options’.