BRICS trade & investment stories

Oct 19, 2026

South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa warns of US trade benefit loss, pivots to China and India

President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa must prepare for potential exclusion from the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) as relations with Washington deteriorate. He announced plans to expand trade with China and India to offset the loss, as South Africa is currently AGOA's largest beneficiary.

Oct 19, 20264 sources

Top claims

▪Executive removal of a country from AGOA requires 60 days notice to Congress, with any exclusion taking effect on January 1 needing an announcement by November 2.
▪Diplomatic relations between Washington and Pretoria deteriorated as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration accused South Africa of discriminating against white Afrikaners and enabling land confiscation without compensation.
▪South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on October 19, 2026 that South Africa must prepare for potential exclusion from the United States' duty-free trade initiative, AGOA.

People involved

Cyril Ramaphosa

Subtopics

International trade1 Trade agreements & blocs1 U.S. trade policy1 U.S.–China relations1

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