The United States’ (US) decision to withdraw South Africa’s (SA) benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), effective January 2027, raises fresh questions about the future of trade relations between US and SA.
While SA maintains that AGOA accounts for only a fraction of its overall exports, the decision carries potential consequences for exporters, jobs, investment and regional value chains.
Beyond SA the development could have wider implications for other African countries seeking access to the US market.
It could also affect the continent’s broader ambitions to strengthen intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
–ChannelAfrica–
