SA-US ‘reset’ as Ramaphosa lands in Washington
A relationship reset, future trade ties, and dispelling myths about South Africa are among the key issues up for discussion ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's meeting with Donald Trump.
He received a red carpet welcome when his jet touched down in Washington, DC on Monday afternoon.
Four cabinet ministers, including Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, are accompanying him on the high-stakes visit.
Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said that Wednesday’s meeting at the White House will include discussions on the US-Africa trade pact, the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
“We’d still like to see AGOA extended and see South Africa's continued participation in AGOA. However, if the Trump administration has decided to do away with the trade scheme, we'll then be ready to table an outline of what will be a new trade relationship framework.
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, and Special Envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas, have joined Ramaphosa on the working trip.
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Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says she'll follow up with other senior officials on comments that appear to criticise Washington's move to grant refugee status to 49 Afrikaners from South Africa.
A reporter questioned, " What are the president's expectations for that trip? And the South African President recently said he believes the folks that have been resettled here recently are cowards running away from problems in South Africa. Does the White House have a response to that? So I did see the South African president put out that statement.
Leavitt responded, "I want to confirm on our end with our Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, and we'll get back to you on that."
