PRETORIA - US Ambassador to South Africa Brent Bozell has described the termination of South Africa’s participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) as both “predictable and preventable”.
He has also blamed South African government policies for US President Donald Trump’s decision.
"This was a predictable and preventable outcome resulting from the rejection by South Africa's government of real concerns raised by the US government," Bozell wrote in a statement posted on social media.
The US envoy said he remained hopeful that a way forward could still be found, provided the South African government recognised the gravity of the situation.
"But the South African government must understand the gravity of the situation."
READ | SA's AGOA future hangs in the balance as US reviews eligibility
He added that if the United States succeeds, South Africa would also benefit, reaffirming his commitment to pursuing the partnership as quickly as possible.
"This is the partnership I will continue to pursue as expeditiously as possible," he added.
The latest move by the Trump administration will see South Africa removed from the duty-free AGOA trade programme from January.
Introduced under former US President Bill Clinton, AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with preferential, duty-free access to the American market.
The decision marks another development in strained trade relations between Washington and Pretoria.
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