South Africa Urges Longer US-Africa Trade Program Extension (1)

South Africa’s government said US congressional approval of a one-year extension of a US preferential trade deal would offer limited relief to exporters, as it urged American legislators to lengthen its duration.

The extension of a section of the African Growth and Opportunity Act that expired in September grants tariff-free access to more than 1,800 products from 32 countries. It was included in a federal funding package the US House passed on Tuesday to end a partial government shutdown. President Donald Trump signed the legislation later on Tuesday. The Senate approved the measure last Friday.

“This extension will provide some ...