A group of high-ranking US Democratic and Republic lawmakers have asked the White House to move this year's AGOA summit away from South Africa, as they warned that the country looks set to lose its AGOA status. | News24_Business
AGOA gives duty-free access to 25% of South African exports to the US, SA's second-biggest single-country trading partner after China.In a letter, dated June 9 and addressed to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Trade Representative Katherine Tai and National Security Advisor Jacob Sullivan, the group said:
"Late last year, a Russian cargo vessel subject to US sanctions docked in South Africa's largest naval port, and intelligence suggests that the South African government used this opportunity to covertly supply Russia with arms and ammunition that could be used in its illegal war in Ukraine." But the group also points out that South Africa held joint military exercises with Russia and China, and in April, authorised a Russian military cargo plane subject to US sanctions to land at a South African air force base.
"These actions by South Africa call into question its eligibility for trade benefits under AGOA due to the statutory requirement that beneficiary countries not engage in activities that undermine United States national security or foreign policy interests," the group says.
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