South Africa’s government welcomed the approval of a US preferential-trade deal before a key vote in the Senate, where Pretoria has faced opposition to its continued inclusion in the pact. The House of Representatives approved the three-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which expired in September, by 340 votes to 54 on January 12. The legislation, which grants tariff-free access to more than 1 800 products from 32 countries, is expected to go before the Senate early this year before it’s handed to President Donald Trump for his signature.
