Trump Announces Removal of South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA Trade-Free Deal
President Donald Trump will exclude South Africa and Rwanda from the AGOA duty-free trade program starting January 2027 due to failure to meet criteria.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, DC — US President Donald Trump has formally informed the United States Congress of his plan to expel South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, known as AGOA.
The proposed termination is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, ending the two nations’ access to the United States’ preferential trade program.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed on Monday that Washington intends to suspend both countries from the flagship duty-free initiative designed for sub-Saharan Africa.
The decision follows a comprehensive annual review conducted by the Trade Representative’s office, which evaluated various nations within the region.
According to official statements, the move serves as a penalty for the two countries failing to satisfy specific criteria required for participation in the agreement.
The exclusion is expected to deal a significant blow to the economies of South Africa and Rwanda, which have long relied on duty-free access to American markets.
President Trump has directly notified the governments of both South Africa and Rwanda regarding the intent to end their eligibility for the trade preference program.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
