SA can navigate loss of AGOA trade benefits: Tau

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau says South Africa will be able to navigate challenges brought by the United States (US) non-renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

US President Donald Trump on Monday informed the US Congress that he will not include South Africa and Rwanda in AGOA from next year.

Speaking to SABC News, Tau said South Africa will continue to engage Washington.

He says, “We have been preparing for the possibility of losing AGOA benefits, notwithstanding the fact that both the Senate and Congress had passed AGOA and South Africa’s continued participation, we thought it’s important that we do prepare and that preparation includes the work that we’re doing with individual companies. Our teams are visiting, meeting the individual companies.”