US lawmakers have opted not to pursue a review of South Africa’s ties with Washington, citing national security concerns.

This Monday, President Joe Biden signed a significant annual defense policy bill, which did not include an earlier amendment proposed by the US House of Representatives in June calling for this review.

Read: Agoa extension ‘a good basis’ for stronger SA-US relations – Tau

In February, two congressmen introduced a bipartisan bill in the House, criticizing various foreign policy decisions made by South Africa, including its case at the United Nations’ International Court of Justice, which accuses Israel of genocide.

This bill added to existing criticism from US lawmakers regarding Pretoria’s hesitance to align with the Western stance on Russia’s conflict with Ukraine and its increasing ties with the Brics economic alliance.

South Africa maintains that despite some geopolitical disagreements with the US, the relationship between the two countries remains strong. The US ranks as South Africa’s largest trading partner after China.

Read:
SA evades US censure even as it builds links to rivals
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Recently, the US announced that South Africa will maintain its preferential access to the largest economy in the world for thousands of products in 2025.

It is crucial for the newly formed South African coalition government to uphold a favorable trade relationship as it aims to revitalize an economy that has experienced minimal growth over the past decade.

After conducting its annual review of which countries qualify for duty-free access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, Washington has decided to maintain its list of eligible and ineligible nations unchanged for the upcoming year, according to a statement from the Office of the US Trade Representative.

Read:
Trump threatens ‘100% tariffs’ if Brics nations don’t ‘commit’ to dollar
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