The United States government has announced plans to remove South Africa and Rwanda from its African trade preference programme, ending their duty-free access to the American market from January 1, 2027.
US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, confirmed the decision on Monday, November 2, following President Donald Trump’s notification to Congress and the governments of the two African countries.
The decision affects the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a trade programme established in 2000 to provide eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the US market for thousands of products.
In a statement, Greer said the Trump administration found that both countries were engaging in practices inconsistent with the programme’s eligibility requirements.
He cited concerns over trade and investment barriers, as well as practices considered threats to US national security and foreign policy interests in the region.
South Africa has been the largest beneficiary of the programme, exporting approximately $1.7 billion worth of goods to the United States under AGOA in 2025. Its major exports include automobile parts, citrus fruits and wine, while Rwanda exports products including coffee and minerals.
Reacting to the development, South Africa’s Trade Ministry said it would support industries affected by the decision while continuing to pursue trade and investment opportunities with the United States.
The ministry acknowledged the importance of AGOA but maintained that the programme does not represent the entirety of South Africa’s economic relationship with Washington.
Meanwhile, there was no immediate response from the Rwandan government at the time of the announcement.
The planned suspension marks another development in strained relations between Washington and Pretoria, while also raising concerns about the potential economic impact on businesses and exporters in both countries.
