Ramaphosa satisfied with outcomes of White House visit - Presidency

CAPE TOWN - The Presidency said that President Cyril Ramaphosa was enthused and satisfied with May's visit to the White House to hold talks with US President Donald Trump.

His spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said that government believed that South Africa was in a much better position with the world superpower than it was prior to the visit.

Magwenya said that since that visit, the false narrative of an alleged white genocide had also started to dissipate.

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The Presidency said that what the world viewed in the full glare of the Oval Office was not what transpired behind closed doors.

Magwenya said that the real meat of the meeting took place in private.

He said that the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition was awaiting a response to its proposal put to its US counterparts and more meetings were scheduled in the coming weeks and months.

"Part of the issues that will be discussed will be issues of tariffs alongside what we see as an excellent opportunity to expand the basket of tradable goods between ourselves and the United States."

Magwenya said the president had made it clear he wanted the benefits under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to continue when it comes up for reconsideration in September.

"However, we are ready to discuss a new trade relationship framework in the absence of South Africa's continued participation."

Either way, the Presidency said that government was better placed to reach a mutually beneficial trade relationship with the US than it was before May's visit.