DA calls for debate of National Importance over economically devastating United States Generalised System of Preferences review
5 November 2019
Today, the DA has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thandi Modise requesting an urgent debate of National Importance to discuss the current review by the United States Government of our Generalised System of Preference (GSP) eligibility due to the unwillingness of President Cyril Ramaphosa to send back to Parliament the fatally flawed Copyright Amendment Bill.
On 12 June 2019, we wrote to the President requesting that he send the Copyright Amendment Bill back to the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry for amendments and further consideration.
We warned then, should the President sign the Bill in its current form, it will lead to a jobs bloodbath and will cost the economy approximately R12 billion in exports to the United States following threats to institute a review on South Africa’s eligibility to partake in the United States GSP.
To date, he has ignored our letter and failed to respond.