WATCH: Agoa exclusion is a negative: Ramaphosa signals new US trade deal push
US ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III said SA's removal from Agoa was predictable and preventable.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed disappointment over South Africa's exclusion from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a trade agreement that grants African nations duty-free access to the US market. The decision, announced by the US Trade Representative, will take effect on January 1, 2027, affecting both South Africa and Rwanda.
Ramaphosa acknowledged the negative impact of the exclusion, stating, "The exclusion from Agoa is indeed a negative for us." However, he emphasized South Africa's intention to pursue a trade relationship based on direct negotiations between sovereign nations, rather than relying solely on AGOA. The president also noted that South Africa has been diversifying its trade relationships and expanding access to new markets.
Despite the setback, Ramaphosa affirmed that trade ties between South Africa and the United States would continue. Earlier this week, US ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III criticized the exclusion as a "predictable and preventable" consequence of South African policies. He warned that billions of dollars in American investment and thousands of jobs are at risk and urged Pretoria to address the concerns raised by Washington.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
