South Africa

AGOA Status: South Africa is eligible for AGOA this year. It also qualifies for textile and apparel benefits.

Trade Agreements: The U.S. and South Africa signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in 1999. The most recent meeting of the United States-South African Council on Trade and Investment was held in June 2011 in Johannesburg. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Demetrios Marantis, led the U.S. delegation. See the press release for more information.

Furthermore, the U.S. and the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), which includes South Africa, signed a Trade, Investment, and Development Cooperative Agreement (TIDCA) in 2008. The TIDCA establishes a forum for consultative discussions, cooperative work, and possible agreements on a wide range of trade issues, with a special focus on customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, and trade and investment promotion. The TIDCA was developed at the conclusion of active Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the U.S. and SACU, which were suspended in 2006 due to divergent views on the scope and level of ambition for an FTA.

U.S.-South Africa Trade Facts

South Africa is currently our 37th largest goods trading partner with $13.8 billion in total (exports plus imports) goods trade during 2010. Goods exports totaled $5.6 billion; Goods imports totaled $8.2 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with South Africa was $2.6 billion in 2010.

Trade in services with South Africa (exports and imports) totaled $3.7 billion in 2009 (latest data available for services trade). Services exports were $2.2 billion; Services imports were $1.5 billion. The U.S. services trade surplus with South Africa was $752 million in 2009.

Exports

South Africa was the United States' 38th largest goods export market in 2010.

U.S. goods exports to South Africa in 2010 were $5.6 billion, up 26.4 % from 2009.

The top export categories (2-digit HS) for 2010 were: Machinery ($1.2 billion), Vehicles ($678 million), Precious Stones (gold) ($470 million), Electrical Machinery ($361 million), and Mineral Fuel (oil) ($306 million).

Imports

South Africa was the United States' 35th largest supplier of goods imports in 2010.

U.S. goods imports from South Africa totaled $8.2 billion in 2010, a 39.5% increase from 2009..

The five largest import categories in 2010 were: Precious Stones (platinum and diamonds) ($3.5 billion), Vehicles/cars ($1.6 billion), Iron and Steel ($735 million), Ores, Slag, Ash ($359 million), and Machinery ($352 million).

Trade Balance

The U.S. goods trade deficit with South Africa was $2.6 billion in 2010, an 80.7% increase over 2009.