New York – President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which is set to expire later this month. The appeal was made on Wednesday during the SA-USA Trade and Investment Dialogue at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the US market for more than 1 800 products, in addition to over 5 000 products covered under the Generalised System of Preferences programme. Ramaphosa noted that the trade agreement has supported jobs in South Africa across sectors including automotive assembly, agriculture, and high-tech manufacturing for nearly 25 years.
The President said the expiry of AGOA could disrupt these gains and weaken South Africa’s links to the Generalised System of Preferences, which is crucial for many exporters. He also raised concerns about the 30 per cent tariff recently imposed by the United States on South African exports, saying the measures have affected supply chains and created uncertainty for both exporters and importers.
Ramaphosa said South Africa is committed to constructive engagement with the United States to resolve trade challenges, sustain and expand trade flows, and ensure benefits for workers and consumers in both countries. He described predictable, preferential access to the US market as vital not only for South Africa but also for American companies relying on reliable imports.
The President pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area as a growing market of 1.4 billion people and positioned South Africa as a gateway for US companies into the continent. He stressed the country’s infrastructure, financial systems, legal frameworks, and regional linkages as strategic advantages for investors.
Ramaphosa outlined opportunities in several sectors, including agriculture with agro-processing, electric vehicles and battery production in automotive, renewable energy, platinum-based green technologies, digital services, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, and defence. He also encouraged partnerships between US companies and South African universities, research institutions, and training programmes to develop skills and innovation capacity.
The President said the government is promoting industrialisation to move beyond raw commodities into higher-value goods and services. He encouraged US investors to explore opportunities in renewable energy, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, green hydrogen, life sciences, health innovation, mining technology, and automotive sectors.
Ramaphosa concluded that the South Africa-US relationship is shaped not only by trade and investment but also by shared goals in innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and inclusive prosperity.
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