Smith Statement on AGOA Status of South Africa

Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement on the potential revocation of duty-free status of South African agriculture exports to the U.S. under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). On November 5, President Obama notified Congress South Africa had not made sufficient progress in lifting unscientific sanitary and phytosanitary restrictions on U.S. beef, pork, and chicken, leading the administration to end duty-free treatment of AGOA-eligible agriculture goods in 60 days.

“While trade agreements provide important tariff and non-tariff trade benefits for producers and consumers, they also prove their importance by ensuring we have a codified means to address concerns when our trade partners don’t follow the rules,” Smith said. “I appreciate the ongoing work of the U.S. Trade Representative to address these issues and support the decision to pursue this remedy permitted under AGOA.”

Smith is a member of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee. In September he joined with colleagues from the Ways and Means Committee writing to Ambassador Michael Froman in support of reviewing AGOA eligibility. To view the full letter, click here.