In a development that follows the uncertainty outlined in our earlier blog post on South Africa’s evolving trade strategy and the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the U.S. Congress has now formally extended AGOA for a period of at least one year. AGOA, a central pillar of U.S.–Africa trade relations since 2000, has been retroactively extended from 30 September 2025 to 31 December 2026. The renewal follows extensive negotiations within the U.S. Congress and…
In our previous post, we explored South Africa’s initial diplomatic posture following Trump’s so-called “letter” tariffs. Since then (and following the implementation of the 30% tariffs on 1 August 2025), the South African government has released a comprehensive Joint Statement outlining a five-point response plan, and President Cyril Ramaphosa has, more recently, made a strong appeal for the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which is set to expire on 30 September…
In a move that has shifted global attention back to tariffs, U.S. President Donald Trump recently proposed a flat tariff increase on all imports from several countries, including 30% on South African exports to the U.S.. These U.S. actions were reported on our blog earlier this week here and here. This blog post focuses on the South African government’s response. A Rebuttal President Cyril Ramaphosa has publicly opposed the tariffs, describing them as “unilateral” and based on a…