The Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Rob Davies has arrived in the United States of America, Washington for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council meeting with the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
Minister Davies will meet with civil society, government, business and congress members to advocate for the renewal of AGOA with South Africa as a beneficiary country. South Africa together with sub-Saharan African countries have been calling for the 15 year renewal of AGOA for all eligible countries without any conditionalities.
Meanwhile, a delegation of senior government officials led by Special Envoy on AGOA Ambassador Faizel Ismael, met with the Chairperson of the African Union, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to brief her about developments on AGOA. The South African delegation comprising of business, labour, and government also met with AGOA civil society and Think Tanks, to share views on the renewal of AGOA and there was an overwhelming support for the timely renewal of AGOA for all eligible countries.
AGOA expires in September this year and is a legislation approved by the US Congress in May 2 000. Its purpose is to assist the economies of sub-Saharan Africa to improve economic relations between the United States and the region. The re-authorisation of AGOA is done by the US Congress. It provides duty-free market access to the United States for qualifying sub-Saharan African countries by extending preferences on more than 4 600 products.
Minister Davies says that AGOA is non-partisan as congress members also believe that it should be extended. According to him, the attitude of the South African government remains one of positive engagement on all the concerns raised by the US constituencies.
SA delegation with the US Civil Society Network Organisation discussing AGOA.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
