Not everyone is convinced that
South Africa is doing all it can
to secure the benefits awarded
to it under the African Growth
and Opportunity Act (Agoa).
With the results of an outof-
cycle review against South
Africa pending after several
red flags were raised by the US
around the country’s eligibility
to benefit from Agoa, there
are growing concerns that
the country is actively trying
to alienate and antagonise
America.
Trade and industry minister
Dr Rob Davies has vehemently
denied this saying that South
Africa has addressed concerns
around policy decisions
affecting trade and investment
in the country as well as market
access issues relating to beef,
pork and poultry.
South Africa and the US
have been at loggerheads over
poultry for some time following
the banning of US poultry since
December last year. This was
due to an outbreak of bird flu.
Poultry has, however, been a
bone of contention for more
than 15 years due to punitive
import duties on US chicken.
Geordin Hill-Lewis, DA
shadow minister: trade and
industry, said South Africa
could ill afford the ongoing spat
with the US.
“This is profoundly
damaging for South Africa’s
economy. We should see
America as a real friend in
trade and investment, and most
importantly, we should see it
as a huge opportunity,” he said.
“The wine industry is a great
example – relatively little South
African wine is exported to
America, so the potential for
growth is enormous.”
South Africa’s refusal to
back down over issues such
as the poultry – in October
the country missed a major
deadline to negotiate new
health safety regulations for US
chicken imports – could see it
lose out on benefits under Agoa.
“Agoa is a unilateral benefit
given to us by America, and
yet we are seemingly doing
everything we can to ensure
that we offend them and lose
the benefits,” he said.
CAPTION
Geordin Hill-Lewis, DA shadow minister.
