United States
The United States is a federal republic in North America, bordered by Canada to the north, Mexico to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its capital is Washington, DC, and its largest city is New York. With a population exceeding 330-million, the US has the world's largest economy, measured by nominal gross domestic product, and is a leading centre for technology, finance, manufacturing and services. The country operates as a constitutional democracy with a presidential system, comprising 50 states and several territories. Its currency is the US dollar, which serves as the dominant global reserve currency and is widely used in international trade and finance. The US is a founding member of the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and it plays a central role in global economic and security affairs. Major exports include aircraft, machinery, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products and agricultural commodities such as soybeans and maize. The economy is characterised by high levels of innovation, a large consumer market and significant foreign direct investment flows. Key sectors include information technology, healthcare, energy, aerospace and financial services. The US is also a major source of development assistance and health research funding, supporting programmes in HIV treatment, vaccine development and disease surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions.
United States Updates
Fuel price adjustment fails to deliver meaningful relief as economic pressures mount
3rd November 2026 UASA has expressed deep concern that the fuel price adjustment taking effect from midnight provides little meaningful relief for consumers and... →
Government cannot escape responsibility for AGOA termination
3rd November 2026 AfriForum holds President Cyril Ramaphosa and other ANC leaders in government directly responsible for the notification from the US administration... →
Daily Podcast – November 03, 2026
By: Halima Frost 3rd November 2026 Making headlines:Political outrage, anxiety as US terminates SA’s Agoa benefits; South Africa's diesel price to drop this month, petrol little... →
Agoa exclusion expected to knock confidence not growth as other US tariffs lessen sting 
By: Terence Creamer 3rd November 2026 The announcement by the US government of its intention to exclude South Africa as a beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act as from... →
Global Investment Trends Monitor, No. 51
3rd November 2026 Preliminary data show higher global investment values alongside declining new project announcements. Large transactions, megaprojects and financial... →
Political outrage, anxiety as US terminates SA’s Agoa benefits
By: Thabi Shomolekae 3rd November 2026 The announcement by the Office of the US Trade Representative of the termination of South Africa’s duty-free trade benefits under the African... →
US to suspend South Africa and Rwanda from duty-free trade access
By: Reuters 2nd November 2026 The US intends to suspend South Africa and Rwanda from its flagship duty-free trade program for sub-Saharan Africa, its trade chief said on Monday,... →
Daily Podcast – October 29, 2026
By: Thabi Shomolekae 29th October 2026 Making headlines: Cachalia seeks Cabinet approval to appoint Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as new Hawks head; Solidarity heads to US again to ‘protect Agoa,... →
Solidarity heads to US again to ‘protect Agoa, jobs’
By: Thabi Shomolekae 29th October 2026 Trade union Solidarity has dispatched a delegation to the US in an urgent attempt to mitigate what it says is a severe diplomatic fallout and... →
Agriculture boasts Q2 trade surplus of $2.14bn
By: Marleny Arnoldi 28th October 2026 South African agriculture recorded a trade surplus of $2.14-billion in the second quarter of the year, marking an 11.6% year-on-year improvement.... →
