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Trade and Industry

Monday, 18 December 2023

South Africa in AGOA: Impact, potential and the case for renewal

  • Year: 2023
  • Author(s): TIPS and COSATU
  • Countries and Regions: South Africa

This paper examines the potential of a new regional framework for thinking about AGOA. It proceeds in four parts.

Part 1 provides an overview of trade under AGOA, examining trends in trade, which products are traded, and profiling the tariff advantages of the programme.

Part 2 looks at the bilateral impact of AGOA for South Africa and the United States, looking at the mutual advantages for both sides in employment creation, investment, trade in services, and the provision of critical mineral products.

Part 3 examines the regional impact of AGOA, and particularly looks at a comparative of routes to market, weighing direct exports to the US against regional routes to market.

Part 4 examines the future of AGOA, including undertaking an analysis of the political dynamics of renewal, scoping out some potential areas for expansion of AGOA preferences, and considering policy options should South Africa be excluded from the programme.

Lead Author: Christopher Wood
This paper was written with support and input from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and affiiated unions. Opinions expressed in this paper are the result of consultation between the lead author and COSATU.

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