Johannesburg – South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, has publicly supported the immediate reauthorization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), suggesting a two-phase approach that would first focus on swift reauthorization with minimal refinements.

According to South African Government News Agency, there is a proposal to quickly reauthorize AGOA with select adjustments that would not necessitate protracted negotiations. A second phase could introduce more substantial enhancements after the initial reauthorization, aiming for early implementation in 2024.

The Minister underscored the importance of AGOA, a key trade preference program that grants eligible sub-Saharan African nations duty-free and quota-free entry into the United States market. Discussions at the forum not only covered the reauthorization but also examined potential improvements to policies to facilitate a greater variety of African products entering the international market.

Patel also addressed the need for policy reconsideration in specific areas, such as steel and aluminum trade and the expansion of product variety covered under AGOA, to bolster trade opportunities for African businesses, particularly small enterprises.

The conversations at the forum included the possibility of expanding the scope of products under AGOA. The Minister presented examples of products to U.S. Congressional representatives that demonstrate Africa’s production capabilities, while expressing the need to temper ambitions for an extensive product list with the practicalities of achieving consensus in the U.S. Congress.

Mineral beneficiation was highlighted by the Minister as an area of focus, advocating for Africa’s progression from exporting raw minerals to manufacturing consumer goods and capital equipment like electric vehicles. Patel views the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as transformative, potentially attracting investment due to the combined access to African and U.S. markets, and fostering intra-continental value chains.

At the forum’s conclusion, Katherine Tai, the United States Trade Representative, reaffirmed AGOA’s pivotal role in the U.S.-Africa economic partnership, citing its tangible benefits for individuals and businesses across Africa.

The forum, inaugurated by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday, aimed to explore avenues for broadening trade and investment ties between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa, while facilitating AGOA’s implementation, which includes fostering collaborations between businesses of varying sizes.