S African access for US apple and blueberry exports might pave way for all South African citrus into US [+charts]
![S African access for US apple and blueberry exports might pave way for all South African citrus into US [+charts]](https://agoa.info/images/articles/15583/_thumb2/citrus-nick-gutierrez.jpg "S African access for US apple and blueberry exports might pave way for all South African citrus into US [+charts]")
At the citrus summit in Port Elizabeth last month, Nick Gutierrez, the CGA representative in the USA, put a number of reasons to delegates to explain why the final rule that would allow citrus from all of South Africa’s growing regions to the USA, has not been published yet.
“In many respects, the new US administration approaches trade policy and trade partners very differently from many of the past administrations,” he said, while noting that the US was not about to renege on its AGOA obligations and in fact, was considering South Africa as acting in good faith on that matter as far as access for US poultry, beef and other trade issues were concerned.
Impasse on South African access for US pork
Normally, the US Department of Agriculture’s goal is to seek “win-win” solutions with trading partners regarding market access issues but publication of the final rule for citrus is currently being held up by an impasse on the access for US pork.
The World Animal Health Organisation last year established a new standard for Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome (PRRS), stating that pork meat is not a pathway for the virus. However, the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), which is a signatory to the organisation, abstained from the vote and has resisted harmonisation of local regulations with the new international standard.
Technical negotiations on this point have been exhausted between the US and South Africa, while lobby groups in the US will very likely oppose any new market access for South African products until the impasse is resolved, Mr Gutierrez told delegates.
He singled out South Africa's outgoing ambassador to the US as well as the country's agricultural attaché in Washington as having been very pro-active and supportive of the South African industry on this matter. South African diplomats have started reaching out to a bipartisan coalition of congressional members who are supportive of South Africa and the AGOA trade agreement.
Locally, the citrus industry will reach out in direct consultation with the pork and poultry industries to help resolve any trade-related irritants.
US apples & blueberries: market access sought to South Africa
Mr Gutierrez mentioned that US apples and blueberries have been in the queue for access to the South African market for a number of years now. Perhaps, he said, if movement could be made on these new market access requests, it may also help to benefit the bilateral relationship and help resolve the citrus impasse.
"There has also been communication shared with American citrus importers and other US horticultural sectors who support South African citrus expansion by seeking additional input on how to move citrus forward towards resolution."
In his address he also paid tribute to Gerrit van der Merwe Sr who recently passed away, for the enthusiasm with which he helped to open the American market for South African citrus. He noted that brand development of South African citrus in the US was a matter of importance to the CGA and could be bolstered by celebratory and promotional events.
Read related news articles
AGOA bill good news for South Africa's citrus growers
There is good news for South African citrus exports to the US. Moves in US Congress to review South Africa’s participation in AGOA, the US Growth and Opportunities Act, have been dropped. South African citrus growers who ship their fruit to the US are breathing a sigh of relief after reports that senators have introduced a bill to extend AGOA, which is meant to boost trade between Africa and the US until 2041. Reports from the US have...
17 April 2024
South Africa walks a tightrope on US relations
South Africa has been conducting a high-wire act in its relations with the United States (US). It is maintaining friendships with Washington’s enemies like Russia, Iran and China while trying to avoid disrupting its economic relations with America. Tensions came closer than ever to breaking point this month as the US House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs passed the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations...
28 March 2024
Remarks by Deputy Treasury Secretary Adeyemo on the US-South Africa economic relationship
As Prepared for Delivery in Johannesburg, South Africa Thank you for the warm welcome. I want to express my gratitude to Consul General Spera and the American Chamber of Commerce for hosting me. I am honored to be joined today by South African Entrepreneurs that are building companies to unlock the economic potential of their country. I owe my own presence here today to the inspiration I drew from South Africa. In the middle of the...
13 March 2024
South African president Ramaphosa meets with US congressional delegation
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa today, 21 February 2024, received for a visit from a bipartisan congressional delegation from the United States of America, in Tuynhuys, Cape Town. The delegation is visiting South Africa at the invitation of the Aspen Institute. The President and the US congressional delegation discussed the importance of the relationship between South Africa and the US, which manifests in strong economic,...
21 February 2024
US congress receives Bill to review South Africa relations
A bill has been submitted to the United States congress calling for a full review of the country’s bilateral relationship with South Africa following the International Court of Justice ruling that found it plausible that Israel has committed acts of genocide against Gaza. The bipartisan bill which was introduced by US Republican congressman John James and Democratic Party congressman Jared Moskowitz this week could threaten South...
09 February 2024
Fitch research unit expects better AGOA deal for South Africa
Fitch’s research arm, BMI, believes SA has done enough to get improved trade terms under the African Growth & Opportunity Act (Agoa), which it expects to be extended and modified before its expiry in September 2025. But it warns that the deal might be stillborn if Donald Trump is elected US president. The research think-tank said in a note it assigns a 65% probability that Agoa will not only be renewed but modified to the benefit of...
09 January 2024
South Africa: BLSA CEO calls for more companies to leverage AGOA opportunities
Many more South African companies could benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which gives eligible countries access to US markets free of tariff barriers, business organisation BusinessLeadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso writes in her weekly newsletter. Apart from mainstream formal sector businesses, there are opportunities to enable more entrepreneurs, including women-led...
20 November 2023
US ambassador: AGOA is an opportunity to deepen ties between the US and South Africa
President Joe Biden last December at the US-Africa Leaders Summit affirmed that the US will elevate its relationship with Africa. The future is Africa. One example is its youthful population: the median age on the continent is 19. By 2050, one in four people in the world will be in Africa. The US wants them to be healthy and wealthy. What happens in Africa will affect the rest of the globe — and we want to work together to ensure it is...
09 November 2023
US Senator Chris Coons proposes AGOA extension by 16 years, immediate review of SA’s AGOA eligibility
Powerful US Democratic Party Senator Chris Coons is circulating a discussion draft of a Bill to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) for 16 years that would also require an immediate “out-of-cycle” review of South Africa’s eligibility for Agoa. That could lead to South Africa being removed next year from the programme, which has provided considerable benefits to SA exporters to the US of cars, fruits and wine, in...
07 November 2023
AGOA benefits extend beyond trade [incl. VIDEO of Friday's opening session]
Economies in Sub-Saharan countries stand to benefit far more from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) than notable trade statistics, says President Cyril Ramaphosa. “AGOA enhances the diversification of African economies, enabling them to export value-added products. By enabling African countries to have preferential access to the US market, this opportunity incentivises African countries to develop and export value-added goods...
06 November 2023
South Africa pins its hopes on an early 2024 US Congress renewal of AGOA
South Africa’s government is hoping that the process to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) by the US Congress will be concluded by early 2024, ensuring that more than 20 African countries continue to have duty-free access to the world’s largest economy. This is the first time that the South African government has given a timeline for when it hopes the US Congress might extend Agoa, which has been renewed twice...
05 November 2023