Protectionism restricts potential Leonard Neill THE NOTORIOUSLY protectionist attitude of US officials together with differing opinions of customs authorities have proved a major stumbling block to trade opportunities for South African textile manufacturers under the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (Agoa). As a result, the entire plan has not taken off as well as expected. This, along with the often contradictory attitudes of more than 100 standard bodies in the US, has held everything back, says Randall Carolissen, group managing director of the SA Bureau of Standards commercial division. The slow dissemination of information to local manufacturers has also been a contributory factor. Addressing the parliament's portfolio committee on trade and industry recently, he said an investigation involving his own officials had been instituted to clear up the confusion. On the positive side, however, there are indications that the US was considering extending the seven-year life of the act which provides duty-free status to clothing and textiles imported from selected African countries subject to a tariff rate quota.
