US throws a lifeline to South Africa’s auto sector

• The US Senate voted 90-6 in favour of extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to the end of 2028, providing South Africa's automotive sector duty-free access to the US market.
• This extension will maintain a valuable trade relationship between the two countries, benefiting South Africa's automotive sector and its workers who rely on exports to the US market.
• The decision is expected to boost South Africa's manufacturing sector, which has been facing challenges in recent years, including a 1.7% year-on-year decline from mid-2025 to mid-2026.