WASHINGTON has threatened trade sanctions in a bid to force South Africa to accept imports of tainted US chicken.

US President Barack Obama said on Thursday that he would suspend Pretoria from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) unless it lifts restrictions on US poultry.

In a letter to Congress, Mr Obama wrote: “I am taking this step because South Africa continues to impose several longstanding barriers to US trade, including barriers affecting certain US agricultural exports.”

South Africa stopped poultry imports from the US in December 2014 following an outbreak of bird flu but agreed at a Paris meeting in June to allow the import of 65,000 tons of chicken.

Trade Minister Rob Davies said yesterday that South African and US vets had been meeting to resolve the issue.

‘’Those vets have got to do their due diligence and satisfy themselves that there is not a risk of the local poultry flock being infected by the avian flu,” he said.

The Young Communist League of South Africa called on the government to stand firm against “economic terrorism.”

“The US attempts to control us through its deals,” spokesman Khaya Xaba said. “The AGOA trade agreement is not worth our sovereignty.”

The AGOA grants the US and African countries import-tariff-free access to each other’s markets. But signatories must commit to free-market economics and other conditions.

On Tuesday the US suspended Burundi from the AGOA, citing human rights abuse b the government.