Trump rout heralds ‘new era’ and could reset ties, says South Africa’s president

Cyril Ramaphosa said the Democrats’ decisive victory over Republicans in the US midterm elections could usher in a “new era in world relations” and help thaw ties between Pretoria and Washington. The countries have clashed over trade, race and diplomacy; this week, the United States excluded South Africa and Rwanda from the AGOA trade programme, a decision due to take effect on January 1 that could cost South Africa thousands of jobs. Ramaphosa said he hoped to find common ground with Washington on geopolitics, trade and investment. South Africa is AGOA’s biggest beneficiary and the United States’ largest trading partner in Africa.