Ramaphosa Sees Opening to Improve US Ties After Midterms

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the Democrats’ victory in the US midterm elections could create an opening for improved relations with Washington, even as South Africa faces the loss of preferential US trade access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in January 2027. After voting in South Africa’s municipal elections, Ramaphosa said the result could usher in a new era in world relations. He said he hoped the two countries could find common ground on geopolitics, trade and investment. His remarks expressed a hope for progress, not an agreement or policy change by the US administration. The US has announced it will end South Africa’s access to AGOA, which provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries preferential access to the US market. The change is reported to take effect in January 2027. Ramaphosa described the removal as negative but said trade between the countries would continue beyond the programme. He said South Africa would pursue bilateral trade dealings with the United States and seek new export markets. South Africa’s response also includes efforts to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement, according to Ramaphosa’s comments. The reports...