South Africa is doubling down on its push to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a vital trade deal allowing duty-free exports to the US, as its September expiration looms. Despite the recent, tense televised exchange between Presidents Ramaphosa and Trump, South African officials used the Washington visit to quietly advocate for AGOA’s extension and deeper economic ties. Pretoria also proposed increasing imports of US liquefied natural gas and partnering on rare earth mineral enrichment. While AGOA’s fate lies with Congress, South Africa says it received encouraging signals of continued US support—and even hints that Trump may visit for the G20 summit in November.
SEMAFOR
