Ramaphosa hopes to rebuild ties with Washington after Democrat victory
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hopes the Democrats’ victory in the US midterm elections will ease relations with Washington. He wants to revive bilateral cooperation on geopolitical, trade and investment issues as South Africa’s exclusion from AGOA is due to take effect on 1 January, AFP reports.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hopes for closer ties with Washington after the Democrats’ victory in the US midterm elections. He said the result could usher in a “new era in international relations” and encourage efforts to reach an agreement on geopolitical, trade and investment issues, according to remarks reported by AFP on Wednesday.
Ramaphosa was speaking after voting in South Africa’s local elections. Relations between Pretoria and Washington have deteriorated over several issues, notably after the US decision to exclude South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA, the scheme granting preferential access to the US market to certain sub-Saharan African countries. The exclusion is due to take effect on 1 January and could threaten thousands of jobs in South Africa, the programme’s biggest beneficiary.
Ramaphosa’s reaction came after the United States confirmed South Africa’s exit from AGOA in 2027 on 2 November. South African Trade Minister Parks Tau had called on Washington and Pretoria on 3 November to preserve dialogue on the issue.
