US President Barack Obama is set to announce as early as Monday that
he is suspending duty-free treatment of South African agricultural
products under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).
 |
| Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies. |
SA
exports at risk, which include citrus, macadamia nuts and wine, were
valued in the first 10 months of last year at more than R2bn, according
to US trade data.
Mr Obama’s expected move reflects deep
frustration with what the White House and members of Congress, including
long-time allies, see as Pretoria’s failure to meet mutually agreed
benchmarks for lifting bans on US poultry and beef, nominally imposed to
protect the health of SA consumers and livestock.
Agoa, first
adopted in 2000, grants African countries privileged access to the US
market on certain conditions, including that they make "continual
progress" towards eliminating barriers to US trade and investment.
