South Africa is likely to maintain preferential trade access to the US market despite strained relations between the nations, according to an executive who represented the country at a forum in Washington this week.
While President Joe Biden’s administration has sought to build ties in South Africa to counter Russia and China, US lawmakers have been highly critical of the country after it took Israel to the International Court of Justice over accusations of genocide amid the war in Gaza. As a result, the US House last month passed a key annual defense policy bill with an amendment calling for a review of South Africa’s national security risks to the US.
South Africa shipped goods worth more than $14 billion to the US in 2022, with about 25% cleared under the two accords, The US Trade Representative didn’t respond to requests seeking comment outside office hours. USTR officials will host a briefing on Monday.