Guest: Dr Zuko April, Deputy Director at the Department of Trade and Industry

Guest: Thabile Nkunjana, Agricultural Economist in the Markets and Economic Research Division at the National Agricultural Marketing Council

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a piece of legislation that was approved by the U.S. Congress in May 2000. The stated purpose of this legislation is to assist the economies of sub-Saharan Africa and to improve economic relations between the United States and the region.

Last month, South African politicians from the ANC and DA have made their way to Washington to advocate for SA's participation in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act despite their disagreements over Russia's war against Ukraine.

 

President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a delegation to lobby administration officials and congressional leaders amid rising concerns about Pretoria’s deteriorating relations with Washington. This over what the US and other Western governments see as the ANC government’s increasingly friendly relations with Moscow.