The Obama administration is actively considering the re-imposition of tariffs on a range of South African exports worth billions of rand including cars‚ ferromanganese‚ citrus and wine‚ unless South Africa moves rapidly to open its market to US chicken‚ beef and pork‚ Business Day reported.

"Without swift action‚ South Africa risks losing important tariff benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa)‚" deputy assistant US trade representative Trevor Kincaid South Africaid on Thursday. US and South African trade‚ agricultural and veterinary officials‚ including South Africa’s special envoy on Agoa issues‚ ambasSouth Africador Faizel Ismail‚ are due to meet in Washington on Monday.

"A resolution on unfair barriers to US exports is urgently needed‚ particularly given the clear Congressional mandate in the recent Agoa renewal legislation‚" Mr Kincaid South Africaid‚ reiterating the mesSouth Africage delivered to Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies by US trade representative Michael Froman at the Agoa forum in Gabon last month.