South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tied Democrats’ U.S. midterm gains to potential changes in global relations as South Africa prepares to lose duty-free U.S. trade access in January.
After casting his ballot in the local elections, Ramaphosa described the U.S. election outcome as a turning point for international relations.
Reuters reported that President Donald Trump’s administration moved this week to end South Africa’s duty-free access to the U.S. market. Ramaphosa said a Monday announcement would suspend South Africa from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in January. He described the change as negative but said trade between the countries would continue.
He described broader export access and a trade pact with Washington as central to South Africa’s response. He said expanding export markets had become central to the country’s response. He had previously warned that the loss of U.S. trade access could put South African jobs at risk, as he said in an earlier warning.
Reuters reported that relations between Washington and Pretoria are strained. The Trump administration cut financial aid last year and expelled South Africa’s previous ambassador to Washington. Trump has cited what he says is persecution of white people in South Africa; the South African government rejects that claim and says fringe groups have promoted a false narrative.
The AGOA suspension is due to begin in January, while Ramaphosa said South Africa’s focus would be on trade negotiations and finding new export markets.
