US plans to block SA from participating in G20

The article reports on escalating tensions in US-South Africa relations, with South African officials informing Bloomberg that the US intends to exclude Pretoria from G20 meetings during its upcoming presidency, an announcement expected soon despite no White House comment. Relations have deteriorated due to US President Donald Trump's unverified claims of 'white genocide' in South Africa and perceptions that Pretoria's government aligns with US adversaries like China. The US protested South Africa's G20 presidency and boycotted a recent summit. A key development is Republican Senator John Kennedy's introduced bill, the AGOA Extension and Bilateral Engagement Act, which proposes a two-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade framework but ties benefits to countries supporting US interests and countering China's influence in Africa. The bill mandates strategies for bilateral trade agreements with select African nations and incorporates the US-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act to hold South Africa accountable for siding with rivals. Despite this, South African officials maintain that trade talks with the US continue, though the US shows no signs of removing its 30% tariff on most South African imports, casting doubt on South Africa's AGOA membership. The future of bilateral relations remains highly uncertain, as reported by SABC News Washington.