---
title: "Redi Tlhabi talks AGOA with Wandile Sihlobo"
description: "After months of warnings that South Africa would be punished by the United States over its foreign policy, Washington has taken a different course. President Donald Trump has signed a short extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through 31 December 2026, applied retroactively. In this episode, Redi Tlhabi and chief economist, author and a member of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Economic Advisory Council, Wandile Sihlobo talk about why South Africa remains in AGOA, what the limited extension signals about US trade policy, and why the outcome contrasts sharply with earlier predictions of exclusion."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "THE READINESS REPORT"
author: "Redi Tlhabi"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/redi-tlhabi/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-11-redi-tlhabi-talks-agoa-with-wandile-sihlobo/"
published: "2026-02-11T20:23:58"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 76
---

# Redi Tlhabi talks AGOA with Wandile Sihlobo

> After months of warnings that South Africa would be punished by the United States over its foreign policy, Washington has taken a different course. President Donald Trump has signed a short extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through 31 December 2026, applied retroactively. In this episode, Redi Tlhabi and chief economist, author and a member of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Economic Advisory Council, Wandile Sihlobo talk about why South Africa remains in AGOA, what the limited extension signals about US trade policy, and why the outcome contrasts sharply with earlier predictions of exclusion.

By Redi Tlhabi · Published 11 February 2026, 22:23 SAST

## Content

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5xsNZQajRM)

[Media](https://player.simplecast.com/83f6a814-ebac-4b74-bc69-e9d04878bc87?dark=false)

This episode was made possible thanks to [The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom](https://www.freiheit.org/sub-saharan-africa).

![FNF English Logo 1- NEW](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/9RmYkmULSt4Ck37EvVZcm_GRMu8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/FNF-English-Logo-1-NEW.png)

*FNF English Logo 1- NEW*

Hosted by: Redi Tlhabi
Guest: Wandile Sihlobo
Edited by: Joel Seboa
Produced by: Emilie Gambade & Joel Seboa
Original Theme Music & Design by: Bernard Kotze

You can listen to the podcast everywhere, including Spotify!

You can listen to [Let's Talk Human Rights podcast here](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu00m-l7ea9IBJGB-21RBwXVEhmDeCY2N).

Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a [Maverick Insider](https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverick).**[https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjUxaE1XUURmSGxWWDFIS1RDdHhqLWJUUzB6UXxBQ3Jtc0tuQ1FTbkpwQmFIc1B1LXdxc2tGYzRNZi1DTlU4d2J5dk4tc1hjREtrWEFaT1RiR2Jua3pfTGV4UzhlWkcwdjZrQ3p2VWJPRnBYRWZfVzlZQWVub3JOQ19Vc0JGUHQ5YzdyLWlnaGhnVllTY213bUJRVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2FSupportDailyMaverick&v=RvkFMkZnPRg](https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbjUxaE1XUURmSGxWWDFIS1RDdHhqLWJUUzB6UXxBQ3Jtc0tuQ1FTbkpwQmFIc1B1LXdxc2tGYzRNZi1DTlU4d2J5dk4tc1hjREtrWEFaT1RiR2Jua3pfTGV4UzhlWkcwdjZrQ3p2VWJPRnBYRWZfVzlZQWVub3JOQ19Vc0JGUHQ5YzdyLWlnaGhnVllTY213bUJRVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2FSupportDailyMaverick&v=RvkFMkZnPRg)DM**