Lamola confident SA will get extension on AGOA when US govt reopens

Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola said he’s optimistic South Africa will get a one-year extension on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) when the United States (US) government reopens for business.

The 2025 government shutdown extended into day 21 on Tuesday, making it one of the longest in US history with no end in sight.

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The shutdown comes amid a partisan fight in the Senate over federal funding priorities.

In addition to the impact in the US, the stalemate has also stalled South Africa’s bid to renew AGOA, which lapsed in September.

AGOA, which was established in 2000, exempts eligible African countries from taxes on their exports to the US.

Speaking at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London on Tuesday, Lamola told delegates he’s optimistic the region will get a reprieve when the US government shutdown ends.

“It remains a very strategic platform of our trade with the US, but not only with the US, but some of the other countries in the sub-Saharan parts of our continent.”

He said a bid to lower tariffs is also promising.

“You can’t fully separate AGOA from the tariffs because the tariffs technically nullify AGOA. That’s why the negotiation on the tariffs continue to enable AGOA to continue.”