JOHANNESBURG – Key Republican lawmakers are already pressuring the incoming Trump administration to kick South Africa out of lucrative trade deals if the government does not change its stance on Russia, China, Iran and Israel.
Most at risk are South African duty-free exports to the United States of goods such as cars and citrus fruits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which could result in the loss of tens of thousands of African jobs. There is. South Africa will likely come under intense scrutiny from the next government.
Publications from Howard University Center for African Studies In 2023, it warned that countries seeking AGOA preferential trade agreements “cannot take actions that would undermine the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.”
South Africa will participate in exercises involving Russian military aircraft and naval vessels, and will make its naval base in Pretoria available to the Kremlin and Russia's sanctioned warships. South African military officials received training in Moscow. South Africa has refused to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations.
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President-elect Trump. (Peter Kramer/NBC via Getty Images)
South Africa's majority ANC party has been in talks with the terrorist organization Hamas, and a branch of the ANC recently supported a local Islamic leader, who reportedly shouted to a cheering crowd, I am Hamas, Cape Town is Hamas, Viva Hamas!'' he said. The government also issued a statement condemning the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh this year. The country's foreign minister, Ronald Lamola, opposed the “assassination” of the designated terrorist leader, saying “such extrajudicial killings violate international law.”
South Africa has condemned Israel's genocide at the International Court of Justice.
South Africa's largest trading partner is China, and both countries are founding members of the trade organization BRICS. South Africa welcomes Iran to join BRICS. There were accusations that there were deep ties between Tehran and Pretoria.
From left: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared at the BRICS Summit in Kazan on October 23. (Alexander Zemlyanichenko/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
“Given South Africa's position on Russia and Ukraine and the Middle East conflict, South Africa has moved away from America's position on a number of fronts, particularly in its vigorous pursuit of Israel and its leaders in international tribunals. I’m leaning from my position,” J. Brooks Spector said. he told FOX News Digital.
“However, South Africa's continued actions and rhetoric in pursuing Israel in international tribunals is a sign that Congress's It would (and probably will) embold Republicans,” he added. (Even within the administration) is to strip South Africa of the benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, assuming it is renewed next year. ”
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“These pursuits by the South African government could also lead to moves to reduce aid to critical initiatives such as PEPFAR. “It is an essential aid program for “AIDS,'' he said.
One of those influential Republicans, Sen. Jim Risch (Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Fox News Digital, “Let's get along with Russia, China, and Iran, including Iran's terrorist proxies.'' “We remain concerned about South Africa's efforts to address this issue.” The impact this has on U.S. national security is an important factor in AGOA eligibility, and this country's foreign policy efforts will continue to be the focus of my monitoring. ”
South Africa's former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdullahian meet in Tehran on October 22, 2023. (Heydar Sahin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Sen. Tim Scott (R.S.C.), Ranking Member of the Senate African Foreign Affairs Subcommittee and Member of the Senate Finance Committee, criticized South Africa in 2023, saying, “South Africa has docked sanctioned Russian vessels. , has expanded its ties with Iran and issued a statement “contrary to Israel's right to defend itself in the wake of recent Hamas terrorist attacks.''
These influential Republican leaders are expected to become even more powerful once President-elect Trump takes office in January, and a staffer in Scott's office told Fox News Digital, “Senator Scott is an AGOA participant.'' “We look forward to working with the Trump administration to ensure that they do not participate.” It would undermine our national security interests. ”
Hamas leader Khalid Meshaal attended a rally in his honor in Cape Town. South Africa, October 21, 2015. (Roger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images)
South Africa's move is undoubtedly attracting very bright attention in Washington. Richard Goldberg told Fox News Digital from inside the Beltway that he was particularly concerned about potential links between South Africa and Iran. Mr. Goldberg is a former member of the National Security Council and a senior advisor to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. “The first step is to unfold the case publicly and give South Africa a final moment of choice,” he told Fox News Digital. “Information regarding support and cooperation between the two countries should be declassified.”
Goldberg added: “And we need to use our full diplomatic and economic weight to force Pretoria to choose between the United States and its terrorist enemy. AGOA has several options on its policy menu. It should be one of the items.”
South Africa's Department of International Relations did not respond to several requests for comment, but COSATU parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parkes did. COSATU is the South African Confederation of Trade Unions and has historically been aligned with President Cyril Ramaphosa's ANC party. Mr. Parks is recognized for his meaningful and dignified pursuit of workers' rights. His members could lose a lot, including their jobs, if South Africa is kicked out of AGOA. But in an interview with Fox News Digital, he seemed cautiously optimistic. “I am confident that our relationship with the United States through AGOA will continue to grow, simply because it is in the interests of the peoples of both countries,” he said.
Sen. Tim Scott (RS.C.) and former President Trump attend a Fox News Channel town hall in Greenville, South Carolina, on February 20th. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
“We have engaged extensively on how to deepen the relationship between South Africa and the United States and work towards renewing AGOA,” Parks continued. “We have engaged extensively with our colleagues in the U.S. labor movement, the business community, Congress (both Republican and Democratic), the State Department, the Department of Labor, the NSC, and the White House.”
When President Trump enters the White House, his neighbor Ebrahim Rassoul will begin his second term as South Africa's ambassador to the United States. This month he spoke to the Daily Maverick about South Africa's challenges to the new government and mentioned South Africa's attacks on Israel. I.C.J. “We intend to stick with the case, but for now let's trust our legal team. We can trust the evidence we have put before the ICJ judges and trust that the ICJ judges will come up with a sustainable solution,” he said. Let's believe it.'' Just a solution, but you need to put away your megaphone now. ”
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Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) listens to a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol on April 26, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Bonnie Cashpool/Getty Images)
Rasole noted that thanks to South African oranges exported to the United States under AGOA, Americans can now drink orange juice year-round, even when oranges in Florida and California are out of season. did.
Rasool added: “Why would you want to punish America with expensive cars when a BMW coming from South Africa is so much cheaper than buying one from Germany or building one yourself?”
“Similarly, we note that cancer patients in the United States are receiving medical nuclear isotopes from South Africa.”
Renai Moutilal, CEO of the National Automotive Parts and Allied Manufacturers Association, wrote in Business Day last year that South Africa's expulsion from AGOA would be a “disastrous outcome”. “It would not be surprising to see some parts manufacturers close their doors. If production declines or other political pressures related to exclusion from AGOA occur, companies with headquarters in the United States and factories here There is a possibility that multinational manufacturers with large manufacturing facilities may withdraw from South Africa. ”
Observers have heard loud comments from President-elect Trump himself, including claims that he will impose 100% import duties on countries like South Africa if they adopt a new currency to rival the dollar as part of the BRICS group. It has been pointed out that there have been threats. On the other side of the ring, South African politicians have taken a more conciliatory and subdued tone. The Democratic Alliance (DA) is South Africa's main opposition party. But since May, they have also been part of the National Accord Government, working in sometimes tumultuous coalition with President Ramaphosa's ANC.
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Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov is seen anchored in Cape Town Harbor on February 14, 2023, en route to naval exercises with the South African Navy and the Chinese Navy. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht)
Emma Powell, the DA's national spokesperson for foreign affairs, told Fox News Digital that the relationship between Pretoria and Washington is likely to become “increasingly transactional, with more emphasis on fair reciprocity. “This will be in sharp contrast to the Biden administration's approach to investment.” There is also likely to be less tolerance for actions on the part of the South African government that could be seen as undermining U.S. national security interests. ”
“The Trump administration is also likely to take a more cautious approach regarding AGOA eligibility,” Powell added.
Specter told FOX News Digital that there are strong positives to take home: “The incoming U.S. president's frequently expressed support for transactional foreign economic policy is likely to be encouraged by South Africa and will continue to support African countries. may have an incentive to unite in an effort to provide trade and trade” concessions in Africa to market to the United States. ”
