US Senator John Kennedy Declares South Africa “Our Enemy,” Urges Removal from Key Trade Program Amid Deepening Diplomatic Rift
In a striking escalation of political rhetoric that signals a profound deterioration in US–South Africa relations, Republican Senator John Kennedy has publicly branded South Africa as “our enemy,” calling for its immediate exclusion from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Washington’s cornerstone trade initiative with the continent. The remarks, delivered during a tense Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, reflect a growing bipartisan consensus in Washington that Pretoria’s foreign policy alignment and trade practices are no longer compatible with American strategic interests.
Kennedy posed a direct challenge to US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, asking pointedly: “What do you want to do about South Africa as part of AGOA, given that South Africa is not America’s friend?” Greer did not contest the premise. Instead, he confirmed that while trade discussions with Pretoria continue, broader foreign policy tensions, ranging from South Africa’s stance on Ukraine to its ties with China and Russia, cast a long shadow over economic cooperation.
“They are a real economy, they are a big economy,” Greer acknowledged, noting South Africa’s industrial and agricultural capacity. “They should be buying things from the United States.” Yet he emphasized persistent barriers, both tariff and non-tariff, that, in Washington’s view, unfairly restrict American exports.
The friction has already yielded concrete consequences. Earlier this year, the US imposed a 30 percent “reciprocal tariff” on South African imports, a rate triple that applied to most other sub-Saharan nations under AGOA. Greer explicitly described South Africa as “a unique problem,” a phrase that has since become a diplomatic euphemism for a relationship in crisis. When Kennedy pressed whether South Africa should be carved out of any future AGOA extension, Greer responded unequivocally: “I would be happy to consider that proposal.”
Kennedy’s indictment went beyond trade. “They are buddies with all of our enemies,” he declared. “And they have been very critical of the United States.” His comments reflect mounting frustration in Washington over Pretoria’s refusal to align with Western positions on global flashpoints, most notably its neutral stance during Russia’s SMO in Ukraine, its participation in joint military exercises with China and Russia, and its vocal criticism of US foreign policy in multilateral forums.
For its part, South Africa insists the trade dispute stems from a misreading of data. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office has repeatedly contested the 30 percent tariff, arguing that the average duty on US goods entering South Africa is just 7.6 percent, with 77 percent of American products enjoying zero-duty access under existing trade frameworks. “This 30% tariff is based on a particular interpretation of the balance of trade,” said presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, emphasizing that Pretoria remains committed to “nurturing closer trade relations” with Washington despite the strain.
Yet the political tide in the US appears to be turning decisively against Pretoria. AGOA, originally enacted in 2000 to foster economic development and democratic governance in Africa, is up for renewal—and South Africa’s continued eligibility is now in serious jeopardy. What was once a symbol of partnership is becoming a litmus test for geopolitical loyalty.
The implications extend far beyond tariffs. Exclusion from AGOA would minor impact South African exporters—particularly in the automotive, agricultural, and textile sectors—who rely on duty-free access to the lucrative US market. More broadly, it would signal a strategic realignment, where Washington prioritizes geopolitical alignment over economic engagement with even its most developed African partner.
In Pretoria, officials face a delicate balancing act: maintaining non-aligned foreign policy principles while safeguarding vital economic ties. But in Washington, the mood is shifting toward conditionality. As Senator Kennedy bluntly put it, “They are our enemy right now.”
For a nation that once prided itself on bridging Global North and South, South Africa now finds itself caught in the tightening grip of great-power competition—where neutrality is no longer neutrality, but perceived as opposition. And in an era where trade is increasingly weaponized, even long-standing economic partnerships may not survive the test of geopolitical loyalty.
