U.S. to cut South Africa and Rwanda from duty-free trade access

Jan

Friday

United States

President Donald Trump told Congress he will remove both countries from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which lets eligible African countries export thousands of products to the U.S. duty-free, on Jan 1, 2027.

"President Trump found that the governments of Rwanda and South Africa are engaging in practices that are inconsistent with AGOA's eligibility criteria," Greer said.

— Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative

South Africa

Trade barriers, corruption

Rwanda

Human rights, rule of law

Washington cited barriers to U.S. trade and investment and national security concerns for both, corruption in South Africa's case, and human rights and the rule of law in Rwanda's.

South African exports under AGOA in 2025

1.7 US$ billion

South Africa, the program's largest beneficiary, exported about US$1.7 billion in goods under it in 2025, which its trade department says is only about 10 per cent of its exports to the U.S.

Economy · 1 d ago

U.S. to cut South Africa and Rwanda from duty-free trade access

"President Trump found that the governments of Rwanda and South Africa are engaging in practices that are inconsistent with AGOA's eligibility criteria," Greer said.

Washington cited barriers to U.S. trade and investment and national security concerns for both, corruption in South Africa's case, and human rights and the rule of law in Rwanda's.

South Africa, the program's largest beneficiary, exported about US$1.7 billion in goods under it in 2025, which its trade department says is only about 10 per cent of its exports to the U.S.

U.S. to cut South Africa and Rwanda from duty-free trade access

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