COSATU blames AfriForum and Solidarity for US move to terminate South Africa’s AGOA access

South African trade union COSATU accuses AfriForum and Solidarity of fuelling diplomatic tensions with Washington and contributing to the US decision to end South Africa’s participation in AGOA from January 1, 2027. President Donald Trump has notified Congress of his intention to remove the country from the programme, which gives eligible African countries preferential access to the US market. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said South Africa and Rwanda were engaging in practices inconsistent with eligibility requirements, including barriers to trade and investment and conduct viewed as threatening US national security and foreign policy interests. COSATU warns the move could put agricultural and manufacturing jobs, as well as regional supply chains, at risk and urges Pretoria and Washington to repair relations.