ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane has stated that South Africa will not sacrifice its sovereignty, domestic policies, or development agenda to appease the US. Mokonyane, who heads the ANC's international relations desk, made these comments in response to the White House's announcement that South Africa would lose its preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) from January 1, 2027.
The US trade programme, Agoa, gives eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the American market for thousands of products. Mokonyane dismissed the significance of the impending withdrawal, arguing that Agoa accounted for only a small portion of trade between the two countries. In 2025, about 89% of South Africa's exports to the US entered under ordinary World Trade Organization most-favoured-nation terms, while about 10% entered under Agoa.
Mokonyane suggested that the White House's decision was driven by political considerations beyond trade, describing it as an act of desperation aimed at influencing South African voters and advancing a regime-change agenda. She also accused the US administration of seeking to appeal to right-wing and conservative constituencies through its posture towards South Africa. The ANC deputy secretary-general emphasized that South Africa remained willing to engage Washington but would not abandon policies it considered central to its transformation agenda.
The trade relationship between the two countries faces growing uncertainty, with South Africa already seeking to diversify its export markets and limit the economic consequences of losing preferential access to the US. In 2025, South African exports under the programme were valued at about $1.7bn, down from $4bn in 2024. The government has warned that the loss of Agoa benefits could also undermine South African investments in the US and disrupt existing supply chains.
Mokonyane's comments come amid tensions within the government of national unity, with VF Plus leader Corne Mulder blaming the ANC-led government's handling of international relations for South Africa's impending exclusion from Agoa. Mokonyane hit back, questioning Mulder's criticism of the ANC despite his party benefiting from the government of national unity and the political stability it has brought.
The ANC deputy secretary-general argued that the US was an important international partner but should not be treated as the centre of South Africa's foreign policy or economic relations. Mokonyane described what she viewed as an attitude of racial superiority in the way some Western leaders approached South Africa's foreign policy. She maintained that South Africa remained open to interact with the US and was not anti-American.
The South African government has said it will press ahead with efforts to diversify export markets following the US decision, while continuing to pursue trade and investment opportunities with Washington. Trade, industry and competition minister Parks Tau has previously said the decision did not define the broader relationship between the two countries, but that finding a solution would depend on the willingness of both parties to engage.
Key points
- South Africa will not sacrifice its sovereignty for US trade benefits.
- The US decision to withdraw Agoa benefits was driven by political considerations.
- South Africa will diversify its export markets in response to the US decision.
