President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has informed US President Donald Trump that while South Africa benefits from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), it also plays a role in contributing to the act. Since its enactment in 2000, AGOA has been at the core of US economic policy and commercial engagement with Africa.
Ramaphosa was responding to a question in the National Assembly about the possibility of South Africa losing its participation in AGOA, amid growing tensions with the US President over the land policies.
Ramaphosa says they are working towards creating more market opportunities for South Africa.
“(I have) informed him (Trump) that we value participating in AGOA but I also informed him that we also sell critical minerals to the United States and the relationship is fairly balanced. So, many workers benefit from our AGOA participation but at the same time many other American workers also benefit from what we sell to AGOA. So, it is balanced and we want to see that balance and the mutual benefit carrying on into the future,” says Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa takes a jab at AfriForum, Solidarity:
Ramaphosa says the South African government expressed concern about the mischaracterisation of its laws when it reached out to Washington DC regarding the current diplomatic stalemates between the two nations.
Ramaphosa revealed this during his oral reply in the National Assembly. He says the Government of National Unity (GNU) is open for diplomatic talks at any time with the US.
“We have expressed concerns about the mischaracterisation of the situation in our country and curtail of our laws and certain policy positions. We will continue to engage the United States of America and other stakeholders to correct this mischaracterisation and to ensure that we restore ties between our two countries. More work is underway through the various channels to ensure that the relationship is restored,” says Ramaphosa.
