Abstract
Economic relations between unequal partners are always deemed unfair and it is difficult to understand the reason behind the sustainability of these relations. These may be between unequal partners and have unequal benefits, however, these relations are significant domestically and internationally. The trade relations between the United States of America (USA) and South Africa (SA) have always been unpredictable depending on the different administrations in place with fruitful outcomes as well as unfavourable outcomes. The smaller and less developed partners in such relations are sometimes deemed to be more dependent on the big and developed partners in the relations. Yet even though unequal partners can be co-dependent making the relationship a complex interdependence. This means that as much as SA is less developed than the US, the US is to an extent dependent on SA, otherwise the relations would have ended long ago. Both countries need each other and therefore the administration needs to create an environment for productive economic relations and political negotiations. The different administrations come with different approaches and expectations from their partners.
The Biden administration is said to value both economic and political relations and ensure that both countries mutually benefit without any dictatorship from the West. The same can be said about the Ramaphosa administration, suggesting there is a convergence of outlooks on both sides about each other. It is significant to understand the foreign policy plans and approaches of both sides to understand trade relations between them today. There is also a gap in the literature whereby most scholars focus on US-Africa relations instead of US-SA relations. Also, the main problem is that the dominant impression of the bilateral relationship that SA had with the Trump administration is that the relations were characterised by US policies that were considered less favourable to SA’s economy and more favourable to US interests. Therefore, the study aims to analyse the US-SA trade relations under the Biden–Ramaphosa administration by exploring the prospects and challenges. This is done by employing the qualitative method based on an exploratory research approach and by analysing secondary documentary data in the form of official reports/statements, policy documents, representatives’ speeches/interviews, and accredited newspaper articles. The study is informed by the complex interdependence theory. The findings suggest that every US administration values US national interest regardless of party
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affiliation, political relations shape economic relations but do not have a direct impact on the trade outcome, and SA is still highly dependent on foreign trade and investment to grow their domestic economy. Furthermore, the study recommends that SA should find domestic ways to sustain its economy and avoid vulnerability to global changes and challenges, and policymakers should acknowledge the connection between political and economic relations and know when to separate the two.
Keywords: Trade, administration, foreign policy, AGOA, interests, international relations, and dependency.