The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies met with the United States Trade Representative Ambassador Michael Froman on 26 August 2015 in Libreville‚ Gabon to assess progress on issues that were raised during out of cycle review of South Africa to receive the benefits under African Growth and Opportunity Act  (AGOA).  The meeting was took place on the margins of the 14th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum that is held in Gabon.

The concerns relate to the United States market access on Pork, Beef, and Poultry into South Africa. The meeting expressed satisfaction with the fact that South Africa has made significant progress towards resolving the Pork and Beef market access.

In June this year, Cabinet lifted a trade restriction on cattle and products of bovine origin from countries that previously reported Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), including the US. Furthermore, Minister DAFF Zokwana wrote to his US counterpart to announce that South Africa has lifted trade restrictions on cattle and products of bovine origin from the US.

On pork issue, South Africa agreed that a significant number of recognizable pork cuts were categorized as low risk and were now accepted for unrestricted sale conditions.
Discussions are ongoing on additional list of cuts of interest to the Unites States.

However. Some additional work still needs to be done on Poultry and officials at technical level will meet later next month to try to resolve the outstanding issues.  Both Minister Davies and Ambassador Froman have committed to ensure that the matter is resolved amicably and expeditiously.

Issued by The Department of Trade and Industry