Trade and Industry minister, Mmusi Kgafela, is closely following the progress towards renewing the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), the trade arrangement between the US and over 30 sub-Saharan African countries which provides relaxed access to the American market.
In December, Kgafela, his fellow ministers from Africa and senior officials were in Washington DC for the US Africa Leaders’ Summit where they met with various US authorities including members of Congress, raising the issue of AGOA’s expiry next year and the need for early commitments on renewal.