Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says South Africa’s (SA) continued participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is critical for sustaining supply and value chains that extend beyond its borders.
Tau confirmed that SA remains eligible for the United States (US) trade preference programme after President Donald Trump signed the reauthorised AGOA framework into law, extending it for a further year until December 31. The programme grants qualifying sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US market for selected exports.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Afreximbank Accession signing ceremony in Johannesburg, Tau addressed recent calls for an out-of-cycle review of SA’s participation, with some suggesting that Washington should instead pursue a more direct bilateral trade arrangement with Pretoria.
He noted that decisions by the US Congress and Senate had reaffirmed SA’s inclusion, emphasising that AGOA plays a broader role in supporting regional trade integration. While SA remains open to bilateral trade discussions with the US, Tau stressed that maintaining AGOA is important for economic continuity across the continent.
The confirmation offers reassurance to exporters who rely on the trade window, even as longer-term trade relations between the US and African economies continue to evolve.
–ChannelAfrica–
