Blackburn Says South Africa's AGOA Eligibility Should Be in Danger
There has been some concern that South Africa could be removed from the African Growth and Opportunity Act beneficiary list over its government's lack of support for Ukraine after Russia invaded (see 2307120041). Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who voted against sending financial and military aid to Ukraine earlier this year, is arguing that South Africa should be booted from AGOA coverage if Taiwan's diplomatic office is closed in Pretoria. The South African government has demanded that Taiwan move its office to Johannesburg, the country's most important commercial city. Taiwan has so far refused.
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"South Africa is working with Communist China in an attempt to force Taiwan to move its diplomatic office out of the South African capital. The United States should not tolerate this behavior from South Africa," Blackburn tweeted. She asked the State Department to tell South Africa it would remove South Africa from AGOA participation if it bullies Taiwan. She wrote, "The United States must not provide trade benefits to countries that prioritize China’s influence over democratic partnerships."
Blackburn is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees trade.