US wants greater access to SA markets in wake of Agoa success

NOW THAT the African Growth and Opportunity Act has proved itself, comes the time for the United States and southern Africa to pass a free trade agreement allowing US business greater access to local markets, says Thomas Donohue, president and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce. Addressing students at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business recently, he said it would at the same time be desirable to expand Agoa’s preferential treatment for the five members of the Southern African Customs Union. Bullish in his assessment about the future co-operation potential by both countries, Donohue says US business is increasingly becoming interested in investing in and exporting from, this country.