Republicans in the US are urging the incoming Trump administration to expel South Africa from trade agreements if it doesn't alter its stance on Russia, China, Iran, and Israel. This could jeopardize South Africa's duty-free exports to the US under AGOA, potentially leading to job losses. South Africa's close military ties with Russia, refusal to condemn its invasion of Ukraine, and support for Hamas raise concerns among US officials.
Key Republicans are pressing the incoming Trump administration to kick South Africa out of lucrative trade arrangements if the South African government does not change its position on Russia, China, Iran, and Israel. Most at risk is South Africa’s duty-free exports to the U.S. of items such as cars and citrus fruit under AGOA – the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and with it the potential loss of tens of thousands of African jobs.
South Africa is likely to be under intense scrutiny from the incoming administration. A publication from the Center for African Studies at Howard University in 2023 warned that a country wanting AGOA’s preferential trade agreements 'cannot act in a manner that undermines U.S. national security or foreign policy interests'. South Africa joins Russia’s military aircraft and naval vessels on exercises, allowing Pretoria’s naval bases to be used by the Kremlin and Russia’s sanctioned warships. Senior South African military officials have received training in Moscow. At the U.N., South Africa has refused to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. South Africa’s majority ANC party has met with terror group Hamas, and recently one branch of the ANC supported a local Muslim leader who reportedly shouted to a cheering crowd, 'I am Hamas, Cape Town is Hamas, Viva Hamas!' The government also issued a statement condemning the killing this year of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The country’s foreign minister, Ronald Lamola, spoke out against the 'assassination' of this designated terrorist leader, saying 'such acts of extrajudicial killings violate international law.' South Africa has accused Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice. South Africa’s biggest trading partner is China, with the two countries being founder members of the BRICS trade organization
SOUTH AFRICA TRADE RUSSIA CHINA AMERICA
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