AgriSA welcomes the United States Senate’s approval of a one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with preferential access to the United States (US) market.
Although the so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs of 30% have distorted the benefits of AGOA to some extent, the programme remains critically important for South African exporters. For more than two decades, AGOA has played a vital role in supporting South Africa’s agriculture industry, alongside key industries such as automotive manufacturing and textile industry. The United States remains an important market for South African agriculture. In subsectors such as citrus, ostrich, grapes, wine, fruit juices, and nuts, access to the US market is particularly significant.
“Amid the uncertainty over the US-SA relationship, South African exports increased by 26% to US$161 million, as exporters made use of a temporary pause in higher tariffs. While exports cooled down slightly in the third quarter, declining by 11% to US$144 million, the US still accounted for between 3% and 6% of South Africa’s total agricultural annual exports,” Johann Kotzé, AgriSA Chief Executive Officer, says.
“Although this share may appear modest, it reflects the strong dependence of specific value chains on US market access. These industries support thousands of jobs in rural communities and form part of broader regional value chains across Southern Africa. AgriSA views AGOA as a shared economic and development tool, which should not be utilised for political gain,” Kotzé assures.
AgriSA, alongside other agricultural organisations, made submissions in support of AGOA’s renewal as part of the 2026 eligibility review, emphasising the sector’s commitment to open markets, the rule of law, and sustainable growth.
Commenting on the extension, Kotzé says that AgriSA also welcomes constructive engagement between the South African government and US authorities on reciprocal tariffs and broader trade relations. “AgriSA reiterates its call for a longer-term renewal of AGOA. Greater predictability will strengthen confidence, deepen bilateral cooperation.”
Enquiries
Johann Kotzé, AgriSA CEO
+27 (0)87 711 0626
info@agrisa.org.za
