THE EFF STATEMENT ON SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT'S CAPITULATION TO AMERICAN AND AGOA THREATS
08 January 2016
The Economic Freedom Fighters notes that the spineless South African government has finally capitulated to American threats and demands that US poultry, pork, and beef products must be dumped in South Africa despite the fact that the health concerns that were correctly raised by the Department of Health have not been attended to. Absolutely nothing has been done by Americans to address the health concerns raised, but SA has capitulated.
The EFF notes that the developmental and trade concern that the importation of food from America will inhibit South African farmers' capacity to produce food has also been relegated to insignificance. The importation of meat products from America means that local producers of meat will have to scale down or even close their productions because Americans have the certificate to dump their food products in South African markets.
All this is a result of a spineless government and directionless Ministry of Trade and Industry which enters into trade agreements which will undermine South Africa's food processing potential, which is a key component to any form of industrial expansion. When South Africa joined BRICS, and strengthened its relations with China, an impression was created that alternate markets are being established for South African markets, but such is clearly not the case because SA remains hostage to Western trade agreements which are aimed at putting South Africa and Africa as a whole in the state of industrial and economic insignificance forever.
A revolutionary country called Cuba survived sanctions and trade embargoes from America for more than 40 years. Cuba today has one of the world's best human developmental indicators despite the fact that Americans excluded them from the world trade systems. South Africa was bullied on just one aspect of trade and has already capitulated. This is a sign that our country is politically and ideologically leaderless, and being misguided by spineless president and ministers who do not want to guarantee the country's food sovereignty.
The EFF will present substantial policy submissions and alternative on how the country should work towards utmost food sovereignty in parliament and to all relevant stakeholders. We hope that this time, we will bring some sense to the ruling party politicians.
Now that the American meat products are allowed in South Africa, we will write to the Minister of Trade and Industry to request that all meat products from America must be visibly marked with tags of MADE IN AMERICA, so that our people can choose whether they want to eat the sickening American meat or any other meat of their choices.
Statement issued by the Economic Freedom Fighters, 8 January 2016
