South African President Ramaphosa Plans Trade Talks with Trump Amid AGOA Concerns

President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to Washington aims to reset and revitalize the strained bilateral trade relations between South Africa and the United States, focusing on protecting jobs, growing the economy, and expanding employment opportunities. A major concern during the talks is the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free access to the US market for certain African products and is up for renewal, with fears that its termination could have disastrous effects on South African farmers and the broader economy. Ramaphosa's delegation includes key ministers and seeks to address trade tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which have threatened South African exports. Besides trade, Ramaphosa is expected to dispel conspiracy theories about a "white genocide" in South Africa, which have been perpetuated by some in the US. Additionally, there is a call for the talks to address the broader issue of Big Tech's control over African digital innovation, exemplified by the legal conflict between South Africa's GovChat platform and Meta, highlighting concerns about digital sovereignty and economic censorship. On the continental level, the African Development Bank is prioritizing infrastructure and policy reforms to improve regional connectivity and trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, emphasizing integrated logistics, harmonized regulations, and trade finance to unlock Africa's trade potential.