The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) expresses its deep concern over President Donald Trump’s stated intention to terminate South Africa’s participation in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference programme.
This development has serious implications for our already struggling economy. The potential loss of preferential access to the American market threatens to accelerate South Africa’s continued de-industrialisation. It threatens to increase unemployment, undermine GDP growth and deepen poverty and inequality and potentially discourage much needed foreign direct investment. At a time when millions of South Africans are unemployed and businesses are struggling to remain viable; we cannot afford to jeopardise existing trade relationships or close the door to economic opportunities.
The ACDP believes that South Africa’s international diplomacy must be guided by pragmatism, mutual respect, and the protection of our national economic interest. Unfortunately, our government’s failure to consistently adhere to its stated policy of non-alignment in international affairs has contributed to the deterioration of relations with the United States and President Trump’s decision. We cannot afford an ideological approach to international relations that compromises the livelihoods of our people. South Africa needs a foreign policy that strengthens economic partnerships, attracts investments and creates opportunities for sustainable growth.
The ACDP therefore calls on government to urgently pursue constructive, high-level diplomatic engagement with the United States to resolve outstanding differences and preserve South Africa’s access to AGOA.
With the many challenges our country is facing, we need friends, not enemies, and we need diplomacy that builds bridges, not one which isolates South Africa from its trading partners.
