katherine tailatest news & developments
There is strong bipartisan and beneficiary support for making improvements to Agoa.

African Growth and Opportunity Act: Early extension or substantive improvements?

There is good and bad news – strong bipartisan support for improving Agoa and little consensus on what improvements should be made to the Act

  • Eyaaz
3 min read
President Cyril Ramaphosa and minister Ebrahim Patel at the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum in Johannesburg on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo: Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg via Getty Images

‘Time is of the essence’ as African leaders seek Agoa refinements

During the closing ceremony of the forum, minister Ebrahim Patel reiterated that early renewal of the trade programme was preferable

  • Des Erasmus
2 min read
Katherine Tai, US trade representative, and president Cyril Ramaphosa at the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Photo: Leon Sadiki/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Agoa must not undermine African free trade, says AfCFTA secretary general

Wamkele Mene said Agoa, which grants eligible African countries duty-free access to US markets, ought to pursue greater alignment with the African Continental Free Trade Area

  • Des Erasmus
2 min read