For nearly 20 years, South Africa  has balanced relations between Washington and Beijing. Until 2008, the United States of America (US)  was South Africa's top trading partner — before China overtook it, reaching a bilateral trade volume of $52.5 billion (€44.25 billion) in 2024. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) , passed by US Congress in 2000 with the aim of boosting economic support for sub-Saharan Africa, offered duty‑free access to the US market for around 1,800 South African