Ramaphosa Hopes Democrats' Midterm Win Thaws US-SA Ties After AGOA Removal

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Wednesday that Democrats' rout of Republicans in the 2018 US midterm elections could herald a "new era in world relations" and thaw strained Pretoria-Washington ties. Speaking after local government elections, Ramaphosa expressed hope for a "coming together of minds" on geopolitics, trade, and investment.

The optimism comes amid acute tension: the US this week removed South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), effective January 1, 2019. South Africa is AGOA's biggest beneficiary, and the exclusion risks thousands of jobs in an already battered economy. Relations have deteriorated over race, trade, and diplomacy — Washington cut aid, imposed tariffs, expelled South Africa's ambassador, and boycotted a G20 summit in Johannesburg. In 2018, President Trump berated Ramaphosa in the Oval Office over discredited "white genocide" claims.

Despite the friction, South Africa remains America's largest trading partner on the continent, hosting over 500 US businesses and 30,000 US citizens. Nigeria, also an AGOA beneficiary, watches closely — the programme's instability signals how quickly US domestic politics can reshape African market access.

With AGOA's future uncertain under shifting US administrations, should Nigerian exporters diversify beyond preferential access frameworks, or deepen engagement while the window remains open?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/11/04/trump-rout-a-new-era-could-reset-ties-says-ramaphosa/