The United States (US) Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety says South Africa’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) membership is up for discussion.
AGOA is an American act that gives duty and quota free access to the US market for selected African countries, including South Africa.
Brigety says it is not clear whether South Africa’s AGOA membership will be renewed in 2025.
He says this follows concerns that the American government raised regarding South Africa’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war and what he describes as hostility towards the US in the ANC’s 55th National Congress report on international relations.
Brigety says, “It is unclear yet what Congress will do with AGOA at large or what it will do with South Africa in the context of AGOA. Majority of both the House and Senate have to pass this legislation. One should imagine any US Senate or any US Congress reading this document during the debate whether or not AGOA should be renewed and whether or not South Africa should be included in AGOA. ”
VIDEO: US Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, addressed the media in Pretoria:
