Trending 
South Africa said on Monday that the United States was raising “new issues” in trade negotiations, despite Pretoria making additional concessions in an effort to retain access to a US duty-free trade programme.
The dispute has left South Africa and Rwanda facing exclusion from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), creating uncertainty for businesses and exporters that depend on preferential access to the American market.
South Africa is the programme’s largest beneficiary, but its eligibility has come under increased scrutiny as Washington heightens criticism of Pretoria. The US has also made allegations of discrimination against white Afrikaners, which the South African government has rejected.
Read More : Court Convicts Two in Ramaphosa Farm Theft
Washington has pointed to what it describes as barriers to American trade and investment, corruption, and concerns about its national security and foreign policy interests.
South African Trade Minister Parks Tau said the latest issues raised by Washington had not formed part of previous discussions, which began in 2025.
“It is however unfortunate that the US is now raising new issues that have not been the basis for discussions as part of the negotiations process that commenced in 2025,” he said in a statement.
He acknowledged that the exclusion could affect workers, exporters and businesses, but assured that the government would provide support to industries facing the consequences.
Tau also stressed that AGOA, while significant to South Africa’s trade with the US, was not the only basis for the two countries’ economic relationship.
“AGOA remains important to South Africa, but it does not constitute the totality of the economic relationship between South Africa and the United States,” he said.
Read More : Zuma Hits Campaign Trail After Hospital Stay
Figures from South Africa’s trade data show that about 10 per cent of the country’s exports to the US entered under AGOA in 2025, compared with 28 per cent in 2024.
The programme allows eligible African countries to export certain goods to the US without paying duties.
For South Africa, this includes vehicles, its second-largest export category to the American market after precious metals, according to the South African Revenue Service.
