{"id":35728,"date":"2026-01-13T18:17:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T16:17:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/?p=35728"},"modified":"2026-01-13T18:17:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T16:17:45","slug":"economists-caueconomists-cautiously-welcome-us-move-to-extend-agoatiously-welcome-us-moves-to-extend-agoa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/2026\/01\/13\/economists-caueconomists-cautiously-welcome-us-move-to-extend-agoatiously-welcome-us-moves-to-extend-agoa\/","title":{"rendered":"Economists cautiously welcome US move to extend AGOA"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image credit: Istock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Independent economic analyst, Professor Bonke Dumisa, says the US Congress House of Representatives\u2019 vote to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)<\/a> is a positive development for South Africa, but cautions that US President Donald Trump could still use executive powers to exclude the country.<\/p>\n

AGOA, a trade programme enacted in 2000, aims to boost and diversify African trade with the US. It allows duty-free entry for a wide range of African products into America, with almost 40 sub-Saharan African countries benefiting from it.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, the US House voted 340 to 54 in favour of extending the Act. However, the bill still requires Senate approval and the President\u2019s signature to become law.<\/p>\n

“Congress is dominated by the Democrats, who are mainly very positive towards South Africa, so it’s a step in the right direction. However, the very negative submission by Senator Kennedy may actually be seized upon by Donald Trump to pursue his negativity towards South Africa,” Dumisa pointed out.<\/p>\n

“He may resort to his executive orders and just sign an executive order to say South Africa is totally excluded from AGOA. The irony of the whole thing is that you’ve got some Afrikaners who are permanently stationed in the US Capitol now. Solidarity, and what’s the other one? Yeah, who are permanently stationed there to push an agenda against South Africa.”<\/p>\n

He also highlighted the irony that some groups lobbying against South Africa in the US could harm their own interests.<\/p>\n\t

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