Global Courant
A letter received by The New York Times states that the South African government has deepened its relations with Russia over the past year, despite formally taking a neutral stance on Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, forcing the United States to take action.
According to the publication, both Democratic and Republican representatives in Washington have said it is time for South Africa to face the consequences for its foreign policy. This follows the White House taking an extended wait and see approach.
The letter, dated June 9, written by the United States Congress to U.S. State Department Anthony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jacob Sullivan and U.S. Commerce Ambassador Katherine Tai, said lawmakers are deeply concerned that organizing of the 2023 AGOA forum in South Africa would serve as an implicit endorsement of South Africa’s damaging support for the Russian invasion and possible violation of US sanctions laws.
AGOA refers to the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which grants duty-free treatment to goods in certain sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa. Ultimately, the agreement provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for thousands of goods.
The loss of AGOA benefits could result in the loss of foreign trade benefits for South Africa. Under the law, the president is given the authority to add or remove countries from AGOA, a process administered by the Office of the US Trade Representative.
The letter was signed by Senator Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as Senator Jim Risch, the leading Republican on the committee. In addition, it was endorsed by key Republican and Democratic officials on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.