African Growth and Opportunity Act

South Africa requested the U.S. to exempt it from proposed tariffs linked to a U.S. investigation into forced labor enforcement, arguing it has robust laws against the practice. The delegation highlighted South Africa's ratification of ILO conventions and existing import bans on prison labor, urging exemptions for key exports like platinum group metals and vehicles.

The article argues that the U.S. debate over extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is misplaced, as competitors like the EU and China are advancing deeper commercial ties with Africa. It highlights the need for the U.S. to shift from AGOA's one-way trade preferences to a broader strategy focused on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), reciprocal agreements, and long-term investment in infrastructure and critical minerals.

The U.S. Congress passed a one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in February after a year of delays that caused a temporary lapse in the trade program. China simultaneously expanded duty-free access to 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations.