Some lawmakers are reportedly irked by Pretoria’s deepening ties with Russia and Iran, as well as its criticism of Israel
A number of prominent Republican lawmakers are putting pressure on US President-elect Donald Trump to scrap a trade scheme providing South Africa with preferential treatment, Fox News has reported. GOP bigwigs have been highlighting Pretoria’s refusal to toe the Washington line on international issues.
Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), 35 African countries have duty-free access to the US market for more than 1,800 products. To be deemed eligible, participants have to pass an annual assessment on trade and investment policies, governance, labor and human rights. Having joined the initiative in 2000, South Africa has emerged as the program’s top beneficiary, with the US ranking as the second-largest destination for Pretoria’s exports globally in 2021, after China.
In its article on Thursday, Fox News reported that should Washington remove Pretoria from the AGOA program, South African car and citrus fruit exports could be hit hardest, potentially leading to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.
Fox quoted Republican Senator Jim Risch as stating: “I remain concerned about South Africa’s efforts to cozy up to Russia, China and Iran, including Iran’s terror proxies, and the impact this has on US national security – a vital element in AGOA eligibility.” The lawmaker, who last November accused Pretoria of subverting “US national security and foreign policy interests,” vowed to keep South Africa in his sights.
His colleague, Senator Tim Scott charged last year that “South Africa has harbored sanctioned Russian ships, expanded relations with Iran and issued statements against Israel’s right to defend itself following Hamas’ recent terror attacks.” His office confirmed to Fox News that the lawmaker “looks forward to working with the Trump administration to ensure that AGOA participants are not undermining our national security interests.”
In a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last June, a bipartisan group of lawmakers similarly raised the alarm over “South Africa’s damaging support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and possible violation of US sanctions law.”
Last December, South Africa filed a case with The Hague-based International Court of Justice, alleging that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza is “genocidal in character.” Israel launched the operation following a deadly incursion by Hamas militants into Israeli territories on October 7, 2023, which left 1,200 people killed.
South Africa has also maintained close ties with Russia, with President Cyril Ramaphosa characterizing Moscow as a “valued ally” this October.
