With SA's relations with US a concern, Tau set to lead charm offensive at AGOA Forum
Tau and his team landed in the US on Monday for the 21st African Growth and Opportunity (AGOA) Forum set to take place later in Washington DC that week.
Parks Tau. Picture: Instagram
JOHANNESBURG - Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau is expected to lead a charm offensive in the United States this week as the global superpower mulls calls to review its trade ties with Africa’s most industrialised economy.
Tau and his team landed in the US on Monday for the 21st African Growth and Opportunity (AGOA) Forum set to take place later in Washington DC this week.
The delegation includes government and business leaders, as well as labour.
They’re expected to ease concerns that SA’s relationship with the US is again strained.
This week’s forum in the US follows a successful AGOA summit in Johannesburg late last year.
At the time, SA’s perceived alliance with Russia had irked US officials, fuelling fears that the world’s most powerful country could cut ties with Pretoria.
Some US lawmakers wrote to the White House calling for SA to be punished over claims that the country smuggled arms and ammunition to Russia in the war against Ukraine.
While the dust then settled, the House of Representatives has now passed a law requiring a full assessment of bilateral relations and submitted it to the Senate for approval.
This move could jeopardise trade between the countries.
Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau said during the visit he plans to mobilise for more investment and again call for an early renewal of AGOA.
The US legislation gives 35 eligible sub-Saharan countries duty-free and quota-free access to the US market for almost 2,000 products.