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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: SOUTH AFRICA-USA-AGOA (TV/R)
HEADLINE: US Trade Act Helps South African Sisters' Sustainable Business
TEASER: In November, South Africa is hosting a summit for participants in the US duty-free Africa Growth and Opportunity Act despite geopolitical concerns
PUBLISHED AT:10/24/23 11:10AM
BYLINE: Kate Bartlett
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Johannesburg, South Africa
VIDEOGRAPHER: Zaheer Cassim
VIDEO EDITOR: Zaheer Cassim
SCRIPT EDITORS: Page, Sharon Shahid
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original, AFP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:43
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TV/R
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) [[ South Africa is hosting a summit for participants in the U.S. government's duty-free Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) from November 2 to 4 as the act comes up for renewal. Kate Bartlett spoke to the owners of one South African company about how the trade initiative — which benefits more than 30 countries on the continent — helped them grow their business and enter the U.S. market.]]
((NARRATOR))
South African sisters Michelle and Mo Mokone started their brand, Mo's Crib, selling handwoven homeware and decor at local weekend markets. Now, it's a multinational venture, with the sustainable and recycled products stocked by large U.S. outlets, including Crate & Barrel and Target.
Co-founder Mo Mokone says around 75 percent of their business comes from the United States.
((Mo Mokone, Mo’s Crib))
“I think the first reason why we think that Americans like us is because we’re authentic. I think more than anything we look like the people that make the products, and for the
very first time, we’re seeing a Black African that’s representing the artisans that are making the product.”
((NARRATOR))
Mo’s sister and co-founder Michelle Mokone says she thinks their popularity is also due to the fact that the company is green.
((Michelle Mokone, Mo’s Crib))
“Well, the kind of plastic that we use is one of the least recycled plastics in the world. It’s called PVC, also known as polyvinyl chloride, and it’s basically like a cable pipe. Or they use it as a water pipe, you know, in construction. So, our main source of this particular plastic was at landfills.”
Without the tariff-free policy, Mo says the sisters wouldn’t be where they are today.
((Mo Mokone, Mo’s Crib)
“If we lost access to AGOA it would have a huge impact on us, you know. We’ve got favorable shipping rights to the USA, and that also makes us a favorable supplier to our customers, particularly the wholesalers in the U.S. ... Probably without it, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
((NARRATOR))
South African business groups were concerned earlier this year that they might lose those U.S. trade benefits. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators balked at South Africa hosting the annual AGOA summit in November. They disagreed with South Africa’s neutral stance on the war in Ukraine and its perceived warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Lumkile Mondi, an economics lecturer at Johannesburg’s Witwatersrand University, explains.
((Lumkile Mondi, Witwatersrand University))
“That has led, therefore, to suspicion about South Africa and a view from certain quarters, primarily the U.S. Congress, arguing that, ‘Why should we give them market access to our market when, in fact, South Africa is in bed with Putin?’”
((NARRATOR))
However, the last few months have seen a warming of relations between the two nations, with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, saying she looks forward to visiting South Africa for the summit next week.
((Kate Bartlett, for VOA News, Johannesburg.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateOctober 24, 2023 12:08 EDT
BylineKate Bartlett
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English, US Agency for Global Media
