U.S. President Barack Obama is set to announce the suspension of duty-free treatment of South African agricultural products under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Exports at risk, include citrus, macadamia nuts and wine. President Obama’s expected move reflects deep frustration with what the White House sees as the South African government’s failure to meet mutually agreed benchmarks for lifting bans on US poultry and beef, nominally imposed to protect the health of South African consumers and livestock.
In November last year, Obama gave South Africa 60 days to grant acess to America’s produce into South Africa or he would reimpose tariffs on its farm exports. The deadline expired at midnight on December 31. South Africa’s Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies will make an official statement over the matter, after talks in Cape Town failed to resolve the stalemate.
