https://en.sputniknews.africa/20241227/agoa-or-sovereignty-south-african-professor-on-his-countrys-choice-in-face-of-us-pressure-1069921090.html
AGOA or Sovereignty? South African Professor on His Country’s Choice in Face of US Pressure
AGOA or Sovereignty? South African Professor on His Country’s Choice in Face of US Pressure
Sputnik Africa
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) offers African countries duty-free access to the US market. However, tensions have emerged as the US pressures SA... 27.12.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-12-27T17:28+0100
2024-12-27T17:28+0100
2024-12-27T17:28+0100
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african growth and opportunity act (agoa)
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The South African government must prioritize its sovereignty over its foreign policy, even at the potential cost of losing AGOA, Dr. Oscar van Heerden, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership at the University of Johannesburg, told Sputnik Africa.While acknowledging AGOA’s economic benefits, van Heerden emphasized that its potential withdrawal would have repercussions for both South Africa and the United States.Despite the implications, van Heerden asserts that South Africa can adapt.
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united states (us), russia-africa cooperation, russia, china, politics, african growth and opportunity act (agoa), trade, south africa, north america, africa insight
united states (us), russia-africa cooperation, russia, china, politics, african growth and opportunity act (agoa), trade, south africa, north america, africa insight
AGOA or Sovereignty? South African Professor on His Country’s Choice in Face of US Pressure
Christina Glazkova
Writer / Editor
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) offers African countries duty-free access to the US market. However, tensions have emerged as the US pressures SA to align its foreign policy, particularly over ties with Russia and China. SA’s neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict has drawn US criticism and threats to revoke its AGOA status.
The South African government must prioritize its sovereignty over its foreign policy, even at the potential cost of losing AGOA,
Dr. Oscar van Heerden, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership at the University of Johannesburg,
told Sputnik Africa.“If you sell your soul, and you allow foreign countries to dictate your foreign policy as to who can be your friends and who can't be your friends and who you should trade with and not trade with, etc., then you are just a banana republic,” he remarked.
While acknowledging AGOA’s economic benefits, van Heerden emphasized that its potential withdrawal would have repercussions for both South Africa and the
United States.“The trade agreement is a two-way stream. It might be skewed, yes, but it is a two-way stream. And so if the agreement falls away, all of those businesses, all of those imports from the United States into South Africa will also be subjected to negative impacts,” he explained.
Despite the implications, van Heerden asserts that South Africa can adapt.
“Can South Africa do without it? Of course, it can. You know, there was a time when there was no AGOA,” he concluded, highlighting the nation’s ability to navigate global trade without relying solely on preferential agreements.
