SA responds to notice of removal from AGOA
Minister Tau says AGOA remains important to South Africa.
The United States has announced plans to withdraw South Africa from its Africa Growth Opportunities Act (AGOA) trade preference programme, prompting a response from the South African government. Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, acknowledged the concerns this decision may raise and stated that the government is committed to protecting jobs by accelerating the diversification of South Africa's export markets.
Tau highlighted that South Africa is actively pursuing opportunities in various regions, including the African continent, India, the European Union, and China.
Tau emphasized that while AGOA remains significant to South Africa, it is not the sole aspect of the economic relationship between the two nations. SABC News obtained a copy of the letter from President Trump to President Ramaphosa, which formally announced the termination of South Africa's AGOA eligibility. Notably, in 2025, about 89% of South African exports to the US were conducted under the most favoured nation terms set by the World Trade Organization.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
