insert_link Business / Economics Solidarity Warns SA Could Lose AGOA Trade Benefits Trade union Solidarity says South Africa risks losing its African Growth and Opportunities Act trade benefits with the United States due to poor diplomatic relations. The union blames the government’s ties with China, Russia, and Iran, along with policies like the Expropriation Act, for straining US relations. Solidarity’s Jaco Kleynhans vows to continue lobbying for AGOA’s renewal this year to safeguard over 500-thousand jobs: today5 February, 2025
insert_link South Africa EFF Slams Trump’s Threat Over SA Land Policy To South Africa, where the EFF has condemned US president Donald Trump’s threat to cut foreign funding to South Africa over its land expropriation policy. Party leader Julius Malema says Trump's statement undermines South Africa’s sovereignty and warns that no threats will deter the government. He emphasises that the act aims to reduce reliance on foreign aid while addressing historical injustices: Meanwhile, the Solidarity Movement has called on the United […] today4 February, 2025
insert_link Business / Economics Namibia retains AGOA eligibility The United States has confirmed that Namibia will retain its eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) benefits in 2025, alongside 31 other African nations. The announcement follows an annual review process by the US Trade Representative (USTR), including a July public hearing to assess compliance with AGOA’s criteria. AGOA is a trade agreement that promotes economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa by providing eligible countries with […] today7 January, 2025
insert_link South Africa South Africa and US Revive Trade Agreemen S.A's Trade, Industry and Competition minister, Parks Tau says South Africa and the US have agreed to the revival of the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. This will be in addition to the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which is due to expire next year. Tau says he is confident that South Africa does not stand the risk of being excluded from AGOA, which exempts certain African countries from […] today31 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Biden Administration supports AGOA re-authorisation The Biden administration is supporting the early extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, allowing over 30 sub-Saharan African countries to maintain duty-free access to the U.S. market. Joy Basu, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs, confirmed this during a press briefing, saying the United States supports an early re-authorization before AGOA expires in September 2025. Since its enactment in 2000, the […] today30 July, 2024
insert_link Africa AGOA-AfCFTA to offer a trade highway to the US until 2041 By Seth Onyango, bird story agency Forty African nations could have duty-free access to U.S. markets until 2041, as Congress considers a bipartisan bill extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Senators Chris Coons (D-Delaware) and James Risch (R-Idaho) tabled a revised AGOA Renewal and Improvement Act of 2024 in Congress, which now explicitly integrates it with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). This alignment […] today15 April, 2024
insert_link Namibia United States has reached an agreement to extend the African Growth and Opportunities Act The United States has reached an agreement to extend the African Growth and Opportunities Act for an additional 10 years. AGOA provides duty-free access to the American market for over 30 African countries. The current AGOA agreement is set to expire in September 2025, and the extension is contingent on approval from the U.S. Congress. We sought the opinion of Cirrus Capital economist Robert McGregor for his insights on this […] today16 January, 2024
