Economic diplomacy is the way to go

From the very outset, the Jubilee government indicated that it would pursue economic diplomacy. In this respect, there could not have been a better approach. Why? Let me illustrate. In late November, the US President, Barack Obama, suspended the entry of South Africa's goods under AGOA after accusing Pretoria of imposing several barriers to trade with the US.

Obama made the announcement following South Africa's anti-dumping embargo on certain US chicken products. The reason for the ban was that US firms were selling what was considered undesirable meat to South Africa.