South Africa:
Summary Report on Trade, Lending, Investment, and Strategic Minerals
NSIAD-88-228: Published: Sep 7, 1988. Publicly Released: Sep 7, 1988.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
In response to a congressional request, GAO examined trade with South Africa, specifically: (1) changes over the past 5 years; (2) changes in public and private credit availability; (3) the status and implementation of U.S. disinvestment; and (4) U.S. dependence on South African strategic minerals.
GAO found that: (1) most of South Africa's trade was with the United States, the United Kingdom, West Germany, France, Italy, and Japan; (2) from 1982 to 1987 those countries accounted for 81 percent of its imports and 78 percent of its exports; (3) since 1986, U.S. sanctions have cut South Africa's exports by $417 million; and (4) although South Africa was able to increase its exports of sanctioned commodities, redirecting trade to other countries did not help it to recover its losses due to sanctions. GAO also found that: (1) the United States, the United Kingdom, West Germany, and Switzerland accounted for almost half of South Africa's $23-billion foreign debt; (2) although lending to South Africa decreased in reaction to its perceived political instability, poor economic performance, and 1985 freeze on debt repayment, lending should increase as the overall lending climate improves; (3) although more than half of U.S. companies withdrew from South Africa after 1984, direct U.S. investment increased 4 percent due to U.S. companies' reinvestment earnings of about $199 million; (4) the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act exempted 10 strategic minerals from import prohibitions; (5) with the exception of two platinum-group metals, alternative U.S. supply sources existed for South African strategic minerals; (6) the estimated 5-year direct economic cost of an import embargo on 6 of the 10 minerals totalled $9.25 billion; and (7) the list of certified minerals could change because of new information.
Feb 8, 2021
Venezuela:
Additional Tracking Could Aid Treasury's Efforts to Mitigate Any Adverse Impacts U.S. Sanctions Might Have on Humanitarian AssistanceGAO-21-239: Published: Feb 4, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 8, 2021.
Jan 28, 2021
-
Cyber Diplomacy:
State Should Use Data and Evidence to Justify Its Proposal for a New Bureau of Cyberspace Security and Emerging TechnologiesGAO-21-266R: Published: Jan 28, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 28, 2021.
Jan 27, 2021
-
Afghanistan Reconstruction:
GAO Work since 2002 Shows Systemic Internal Control Weaknesses that Increased the Risk of Waste, Fraud, and AbuseGAO-21-32R: Published: Jan 27, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 27, 2021.
Dec 9, 2020
-
International Trade:
Observations On Whether Women's Rights and Economic Interests Are Protected or Promoted by U.S. Trade Preference ProgramsGAO-21-190: Published: Dec 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 9, 2020.
Dec 2, 2020
-
Foreign Assistance:
USAID Should Analyze Data on the Timeliness of ExpendituresGAO-21-51: Published: Dec 2, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 2, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
-
Global Food Security:
Information on Spending and Types of Assistance Provided by the United States and Other DonorsGAO-21-47R: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Nov 9, 2020
-
Human Trafficking:
Agencies Have Taken Steps to Strengthen International Anti-trafficking ProjectsGAO-21-53: Published: Nov 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 9, 2020. -
Rule of Law Assistance:
State and USAID Could Improve Monitoring EffortsGAO-21-14: Published: Nov 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 9, 2020.
Oct 27, 2020
-
Forced Labor Imports:
DHS Increased Resources and Enforcement Efforts, but Needs to Improve Workforce Planning and MonitoringGAO-21-106: Published: Oct 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 27, 2020.
Oct 2, 2020
-
Combating Wildlife Trafficking:
Agencies Work to Address Human Rights Abuse Allegations in Overseas Conservation ProgramsGAO-21-139R: Published: Oct 2, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 2, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on International Affairs
Explore our other Key Issues here
