Parks Tau urges Washington and Pretoria to preserve AGOA dialogue
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
South African Trade Minister Parks Tau says the US threat to remove South Africa from AGOA does not define relations between the two countries. He is calling on Washington and Pretoria to find a solution through dialogue, as the withdrawal of trade benefits is scheduled for 1 January 2027, according to IOL.
South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, has called on Washington and Pretoria to preserve dialogue after the US announced possible exclusion of South Africa from AGOA, the trade preference programme for African countries. He said the decision did not define the countries’ entire relationship, according to IOL.
US President Donald Trump notified Congress of his intention to end South Africa’s participation in the programme from 1 January 2027. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer justified the move by citing barriers to US trade and investment, as well as practices deemed incompatible with US national security and foreign policy interests.
The South African government has 60 days’ notice and is assessing the consequences for workers, exporters, businesses and communities linked to value chains supported by AGOA. Pretoria says it has submitted new concessions to the United States while maintaining measures intended to protect its biosecurity, constitutional imperatives and obligations to the World Trade Organization, according to IOL.
Parks Tau’s position comes after Pretoria’s efforts to diversify exports, announced on 28 October amid uncertainty over AGOA. It also follows the US confirmation that South Africa will leave AGOA in 2027, published on 2 November.
