South Africa: heading for a trade break with Washington?

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the public to prepare for a possible halt in trade cooperation with the United States as relations have deteriorated since Donald Trump took office. Congress has renewed the AGOA law, which gives eligible sub-Saharan African countries preferential access to the US market, through the end of 2028. The legislation still requires Trump’s signature, a step Ramaphosa says may prove difficult. Washington is closely reviewing South Africa’s eligibility and has accused Pretoria of discriminating against white Afrikaners, allegations South African authorities deny.