Washington D.C. – President Cyril Ramaphosa is in the United States for talks with the US President Donald Trump, with the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), trade tariffs, and diplomatic ties topping the agenda.
The high-level meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and is expected to shape the future of relations between Pretoria and Washington, especially amid uncertainties around the continuation of AGOA.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the South African delegation is prepared to discuss alternatives should the US decide to scrap the trade scheme. “We would still like to see AGOA being extended and South Africa’s participation continued. However, if the Trump administration opts out, we are ready to propose a new framework,” he said.
Magwenya said the meeting aims to refocus the trade relationship and explore fresh economic opportunities between the two countries.
AGOA, first enacted in 2000, provides eligible African countries with duty-free access to the US market, and its possible termination has raised concerns in Southern Africa, including Eswatini, which benefits from the agreement.
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