President Donald Trump has notified Congress of his intention to remove South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a preferential trade programme that lets eligible African countries export thousands of products to the US duty-free. The removal is due to take effect on 1 January 2027.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said an annual review had found both countries were engaging in practices inconsistent with the programme's eligibility requirements. The administration has also notified the two governments of the decision.
AGOA beneficiaries are expected to meet eligibility requirements covering progress towards market-based economies, good governance and the elimination of barriers to US trade and investment, with Washington reviewing their eligibility annually.
Washington cited barriers to US trade and investment and concerns over national security and foreign policy interests in the region. In Rwanda's case, it also raised concerns about human rights, political pluralism, the rule of law and workers' rights. For South Africa, it additionally pointed to corruption. Rwanda was also suspended from the programme in 2018.
The decision comes barely a week after the US Treasury hit Rwanda's defence ministry with sanctions over its alleged role in the armed rebellion in eastern DR Congo. The Treasury said Rwanda's defence ministry directed thousands of troops to fight alongside M23 rebels, providing weapons, equipment, logistics and training.
South Africa is the largest beneficiary of AGOA, exporting about $1.7bn worth of goods under the programme in 2025. Its exports under AGOA are mainly motor vehicles and parts, as well as farm products and wine, while Rwanda's main exports to the US include coffee, tea and minerals.
South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said last week it was prepared for a negative outcome from the review and remained open to dialogue with the US. It said exports under AGOA make up about 10 percent of the country's total exports to the US and 1 percent of its total global exports. President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the country must prepare for being cut out and was already seeking new markets and signing new trade deals with other partners such as China.
The announcement comes amid strained relations between Washington and both countries. Last year, Trump accused South Africa of white genocide in a meeting with Ramaphosa and launched a US refugee pathway for Afrikaners. South Africa's government says the persecution claim is a falsehood spread by fringe groups. The US has also objected to South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice; Israel denies the allegations.
US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III said it was regrettable that South African policies led to its termination from AGOA. “This was a predictable and preventable outcome resulting from the rejection by South Africa's government of real concerns raised by the US,” he wrote on X.
“The Trump administration is working to ensure our African partners take the necessary steps to meet the eligibility criteria,” Greer said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- South Africa is AGOA's largest beneficiary, with about $1.7bn in duty-free exports in 2025, so removal directly affects its motor vehicle, farm and wine exports.
- The move deepens a broader US rift with Pretoria and follows US sanctions on Rwanda over the DR Congo conflict, signalling a tougher US line on African governments.
- AGOA exports are about 10 percent of South Africa's exports to the US and 1 percent of its total global exports, limiting the direct damage but pushing Pretoria toward new partners such as China.
Background
AGOA is a US trade preference programme under which eligible African countries can export thousands of products to the US duty-free. Washington reviews each country's eligibility annually, looking at progress toward market-based economies, good governance and the removal of barriers to US trade and investment. Removal from AGOA does not end normal trade, but strips the duty-free advantage and makes exports less competitive.
Key Perspectives
- US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer: President Trump found both governments engaging in practices inconsistent with AGOA's eligibility criteria, and the administration is working to ensure African partners take the necessary steps to meet the criteria.
- US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III: called the termination regrettable and “a predictable and preventable outcome resulting from the rejection by South Africa's government of real concerns raised by the US.”
- South Africa's government: rejects Trump's claim of persecution of white people as a falsehood spread by fringe groups, and says it was prepared for the review's negative outcome and remains open to dialogue.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa: says South Africa must prepare for being cut from AGOA and is seeking new markets, including with China.
What to Watch
- Whether the removal formally takes effect on 1 January 2027 or is revised after further engagement.
- South Africa's next trade moves, including any new deals with China and other partners it has said it is pursuing.
- Rwanda's response to the AGOA removal following the US Treasury sanctions over the DR Congo conflict, and any shift in its stance on M23.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedAmbassador Leo Brent Bozell III wrote that the outcome was “a predictable and preventable outcome resulting from the rejection by South Africa's government of real concerns raised by the US.”BBC News: “"This was a predictable and preventable outcome resulting from the rejection by South Africa's government of real concerns raised by the US," he wrote on X.”
- SupportedGreer said, “The Trump administration is working to ensure our African partners take the necessary steps to meet the eligibility criteria.”BBC News: “"The Trump administration is working to ensure our African partners take the necessary steps to meet the eligibility criteria," Greer said.”
- SupportedTrump notified Congress of his intention to remove South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA.BBC News: “US President Donald Trump has notified Congress of his intention to remove South Africa and Rwanda from a preferential trade programme, from 1 January 2027.”
- SupportedThe removal is due to take effect on 1 January 2027.BBC News: “US President Donald Trump has notified Congress of his intention to remove South Africa and Rwanda from a preferential trade programme, from 1 January 2027.”
- SupportedGreer said an annual review found both countries were engaging in practices inconsistent with AGOA's eligibility requirements.BBC News: “US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement that an annual review had found that both countries were engaging in practices inconsistent with the programme's eligibility requirements.”
- SupportedThe administration also notified the two governments of the decision.BBC News: “He added that the Trump administration had additionally notified the two countries of the decision.”
- SupportedWashington cited barriers to US trade and investment and concerns about national security and foreign policy interests in the region.BBC News: “The Trump administration cited barriers to US trade and investment, as well as concerns over national security and foreign policy interests in the region.”
- SupportedRwanda's defence ministry was hit with US Treasury sanctions barely a week before the announcement over its alleged role in the armed rebellion in eastern DR Congo.BBC News: “The move comes barely a week after Rwanda's defence ministry was hit with sanctions by US Treasury for its alleged role in the armed rebellion in eastern DR Congo.”
- SupportedThe Treasury said Rwanda's defence ministry directed thousands of troops to fight alongside M23 rebels and provided weapons, equipment, logistics and training.BBC News: “The US Treasury said Rwanda's defence ministry directed thousands of troops to fight alongside M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo, providing weapons, equipment, logistics and training.”
- SupportedSouth Africa is AGOA's largest beneficiary.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “South Africa has been the largest beneficiary of the programme, exporting about $1.7bn worth of goods to the US under AGOA in 2025.”
- SupportedSouth Africa exported about $1.7bn worth of goods to the US under AGOA in 2025.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “South Africa has been the largest beneficiary of the programme, exporting about $1.7bn worth of goods to the US under AGOA in 2025.”
- SupportedSouth Africa's trade department said AGOA exports make up about 10 percent of its exports to the US and 1 percent of its global exports.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Exports under AGOA make up only about 10 percent of the country's total exports to the US and 1 percent of its total global exports, it noted.”
