Lawmakers’ Letter on South Africa to White House

Congress of the United States

Washington, DC 20510

Secretary Antony J. Blinken

U.S. Department of State 2201 C St. NW

Washington, D.C. 20520

Ambassador Katherine C. Tai

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 600 17th St. NW

Washington, D.C. 20006

The Honorable Jacob J. Sullivan

National Security Advisor

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,

Washington, D.C. 20500

June 9, 2023

Dear Secretary Blinken, Ambassador Tai, and Mr. Sullivan:

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is the cornerstone of the United States’ economic relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa, enabling deeper commercial ties and strengthening U.S. relationships with the region. We strongly support this program, and support its reauthorization well ahead of its expiration in 2025. The annual AGOA Forum offers an important opportunity for U.S. and African leaders to bolster economic and diplomatic relations, and we support your continued work to convene a forum in Africa this year. However, we wish to express serious concerns with current plans to host this year’s AGOA Forum in South Africa.

South Africa’s government has formally taken a neutral stance on Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine, but has deepened its military relationship with Russia over the past year. Late last year, a Russian cargo vessel subject to U.S. sanctions docked in South Africa’s largest naval port, and intelligence suggests that the South African government used this opportunity to covertly supply Russia with arms and ammunition that could be used in its illegal war in Ukraine. In February, South Africa held joint military exercises with Russia and China, and in April, authorized a Russian military cargo plane-also subject to U.S. sanctions- to land at a South African air force base. On top of this, in August, South Africa will host the BRICS Summit where the government aims to strengthen its ties with China and Russia and is working to facilitate the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite the outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

We are seriously concerned that hosting the 2023 AGOA Forum in South Africa would serve as an implicit endorsement of South Africa’s damaging support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and possible violation of U.S. sanctions law. Further, these actions by South Africa call into question its eligibility for trade benefits under AGOA due to the statutory requirement that beneficiary countries “not engage in activities that undermine United States national security or