After months of warnings that South Africa would be punished by the United States over its foreign policy, Washington has taken a different course. President Donald Trump has signed a short extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) until the end of 2026. In this episode, Redi Tlhabi and chief economist, author and a member of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Economic Advisory Council, Wandile Sihlobo, talk about why South Africa remains in AGOA, what the limited extension signals about US trade policy, and why the outcome contrasts sharply with earlier predictions of exclusion.
This episode was made possible thanks to The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom: https://www.freiheit.org/sub-saharan-africa
Hosted by: Redi Tlhabi
Guest: Wandile Sihlobo
Edited by: Joel Seboa
Produced by: Emilie Gambade & Joel Seboa
Original Theme Music & Design by: Bernard Kotze
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00:54 AGOA Reprieve
03:10 Historical Context of AGOA
05:05 Significance of AGOA Extension
08:49 South Africa’s Competitive Strengths
11:57 Agricultural Exports and Market Access
16:27 Logistics and Infrastructure Challenges
20:24 Government’s Role and Local Governance
22:40 Foot-and-Mouth Disease Update
23:41 Economic Impact on Farmers
23:59 Vaccination and Future Outlook
24:28 Closing Remarks and Reflections
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