South Africa has narrowly avoided suspension from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (“AGOA”). Last night President Obama issued a proclamation revoking South Africa’s impending suspension from AGOA.

This comes on the back of a proclamation signed by President Obama on 11 January 2016 requiring the entry of U.S. poultry into South Africa before 15 March 2016, failing which South African agricultural products would be suspended from the benefits under AGOA.

South African agricultural exporters may thus continue to export AGOA eligible products duty free and quota free to the US market.

Rian Geldenhuys
©Trade Law Chambers 2016