- The US has accused South Africa of covertly supplying arms to Russia, which threatens South Africa's participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a US law that grants duty-free terms to specific nations.
- South Africa exported more than $15bn worth of goods to the US in 2021, which is vital to sustaining South Africa’s carmakers and the industries surrounding them.
- The fallout from the US accusation has led to a sharp sell-off in South Africa's currency and government bonds.
- South Africa's army chief visited Moscow this week, even as the arms-to-Russia furore rumbled on, while an ANC delegation met with Vladimir Putin's United Russia party last month.
- Russia's real prize from ties to the ANC would be access to resources deals and contracts.
South Africa’s flirtation with Moscow risks billions of dollars in US exports
Diplomatic crisis over alleged arms shipments to Russia threatens Pretoria’s prized tariff-free trade access
Joseph Cotterill
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