Ramaphosa Makes Last-Ditch Effort to Renew AGOA While in US for UNGA80
As #AGOA is set to expire on the 30th of September 2025, the hope for a reauthorization is dimming day by day, and that hope appears even slimmer in the current context of agressive tariff policy deployed by the Trump Administration. Nevertheless, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa seized the opportunity while attending the 80th United Nations General Assembly (#UNGA80) to put his case forward again on why AGOA should be extended.
On 24 September 2025, #AGOA was at the center of his keynote address during the South Africa – United States of America Trade and Investment Dialogue which took place on the sidelines of the #UNGA80. Ramaphosa pointed out that the the economic relation between South Africa and US goes beyond trade number as more than 600 US firms have invested and are operating successfully in South Africa.
“They [Americian companies] are invested in areas as diverse as aerospace, mining, and energy, consumer goods and finance. These investments have built industries, created jobs and anchored long-term partnerships that have benefited both our peoples.
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa
Despite an awkward face-to-face meeting with Trump in the Oval Office earlier this year, Ramaphosa expressed the wish to continue to ‘engage constructively’ with the US. He sincerely wishes for an expansion of trade and investment between the two countries.
In that regard, he proposed to institutionalize the South Africa – US Trade and Investment Forum alongside the annual South Africa Investment Conference. The next edition is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg in November 2025.
In order to strengthen economic partnerships, he put forward a number of new sectors where both countries could cooperate, including renewable energy, green hydrogen (#GH2), digital infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.
At the same time, he expressed the wish to see more South African companies expand their presence in the US market, be it in food & beverages, retail, creative industries, or #FinTech.
In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between South Africa and US exceeded USD 21.6 billion, with South Africa enjoying a trade surplus of USD 7.7 billion. South Africa’s top three exports to the US are petrochemicals, precious metals, and automotive. On the other hand, US exports mainly industrial machinery, chemicals, and automotive, as well. South Africa has proposed to buy more #LNG from the US to close the trade balance.
Currently, the Trump Administration has imposed a 30% tariff on South Africa,one of the highest in Africa. Recently, a Lesotho delegation visited the US from 15 to 19 September 2025 to meet with US congressmen sitting of the Senate Finance Committee and House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee who are assessing AGOA. Similarly, South African Trade Minister Parks Tau travelled to Washington DC to meet with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Based on the feedback received by the Lesotho delegation from US Congress, an reauthorization might not be totally out of the question. Following his address at the United Nations General Assembly, Ramaphosa made an appearance at the top US foreign policy think thank, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), to reiterate his views.
On 25 September 2025, Ramaphosa confirmed having received a counterproposal from the US after South Africa submitted an initial proposal as part of text-based negotiation. A spokesperson from the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) declared that South Africa might need a ‘few weeks’ to study the proposal properly.