July 30
South Africa: Trade Minister Tau Confident U.S. Will Renew SA's Agoa Membership
South Africa pressed the US to reauthorise Agoa before its November elections. It's also lobbying hard against US legislation calling for a comprehensive review of US-SA relations. Read more »
July 29
Africa: Agoa Still in the Balance for South Africa, and Pressure Must Be Sustained On the U.S.
New Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau has made a compelling case that South Africa is seeking to reset its relationship with the United States, which has… Read more »
July 25
Africa: SA Trade Minister Parks Tau Urges Us to Extend Agoa to Help Africa Industrialise
Minister Parks Tau is also holding meetings in Washington with Biden administration officials to try to ensure that South Africa is not dropped from the trade agreement. Read more »
July 23
South Africa: GNU Gives SA a Honeymoon Period for Keeping Its Agoa Status, Say Analysts
New Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau is fighting for SA's continued participation in Agoa at the Agoa Forum in Washington this week. Read more »
May 16
South Africa: Starmer Echoes Blair in 1997 As Labour Kicks Off Bid for Power
Keir Starmer will fire the starting gun on his bid to be Labour's first leader since Tony Blair to win a UK general election by borrowing from the totemic premier's campaign play… Read more »
November 08, 2023
Africa: Prosper Africa Coordinates 17 US Agencies to Help Boost Africa's Low Participation in AGOA
The root of the problem is that Africa is simply not producing enough goods that the US wants to buy. Read more »
November 07, 2023
South Africa: U.S. Senator Chris Coons Proposes Immediate Review of South Africa's AGOA Eligibility
His proposed Bill would extend Agoa for 16 years -- but possibly eject SA from the preferential trade programme. Read more »
November 05, 2023
South Africa: South Africa Pins Its Hopes On an Early 2024 U.S. Congress Renewal of AGOA
The US trade delegation has used the Agoa Forum, hosted last week in Johannesburg, to reiterate that its economic relationship with South Africa remains 'strong' despite the Lady R… Read more »
November 01, 2023
South Africa: South Africa Likely to Secure Trade Status Extension With U.S., Say Officials - But for How Much Longer?
Maintaining South Africa's status under the African Growth and Opportunity Act will save 30,000 jobs in the Western Cape alone and increase trade from an annual R50bn-plus. But… Read more »
October 26, 2023
South Africa: Ahead of Crucial Agoa Forum, Pretoria Again Treads Fine Line With Stance On Israel, Palestine, Gaza
After engaging in energetic diplomacy with the US over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, South Africa is once again walking a tightrope, this time on the Israel-Palestine-Gaza crisis. Read more »
October 19, 2023
South Africa: South Africa Expected to Retain Its Agoa Status Despite Differences With U.S.
It is almost certain that South Africa's Agoa status will be renewed despite it and the US often being on opposite sides over geopolitical crises in the past year. Read more »
July 26, 2023
South Africa: Powerful U.S. Senator Tables Legislation to Scuttle South Africa's Hosting of AGOA Forum
US Senator Jim Risch has tabled legislation in Congress aimed at shifting this year's Agoa forum from South Africa to another country because of Pretoria's perceived closeness to… Read more »
July 25, 2023
South Africa: Confidential Document Reveals Fears That AGOA Trade Pact Status Is Under Threat
In a confidential discussion note seen by Daily Maverick, South Africa admits its status as a beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act is under threat. Meanwhile,… Read more »
June 13, 2023
South Africa: Warning Shot Fired - Top US Congressmen Urge Biden to Move AGOA Forum Away From SA
The senior legislators from both parties say SA hosting the forum would implicitly endorse its support of Russia's invasion Read more »
May 18, 2023
South Africa: Washington Sours On the ANC, Threatening Trade & Aid
South Africa's ambassador to Washington, Nomaindia Mfeketo, has been missing in action for more than two months through this crisis. She is on sick leave. And the view in… Read more »
May 17, 2023
South Africa: Ever-Closer Ties With Russia Jeopardise Annual Exports to U.S. Under AGOA Deal
South Africa exports an enormous amount of goods to the US annually - including vehicles, aluminium, chemicals, fruit, wine, ferroalloys, and even ice cream and edible ice. But now… Read more »