Summary
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House to improve US-South Africa relations and discuss trade. The relationship between the two countries has been strained due to disagreements over issues like land expropriation in South Africa and tensions involving the Afrikaner community.
Key Facts
- This is President Cyril Ramaphosa's first meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.
- Ramaphosa aims to strengthen trade ties and improve relations between South Africa and the United States.
- The US and South Africa have had disagreements, particularly over claims about the Afrikaner community and land policies in South Africa.
- Trump has suspended some US aid to South Africa and offered to help Afrikaners move to the US as refugees.
- South African ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled following political tensions.
- The US government has expressed concerns about South Africa's land expropriation law.
- The meeting may discuss the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which allows certain African goods into the US duty-free.
- South Africa is a significant exporter under Agoa, earning about $2.7 billion in 2023, mostly from vehicles, jewellery, and metals.
