South Africa: Meeks, Shaheen Issue Statement on Trump Admin's Decision to Remove South Africa from AGOA

What the report says

Representative Gregory W. Meeks and Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees, issued a statement in Washington criticizing the Trump administration’s move to end South Africa’s eligibility for benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The statement was released through the U.S. Congress and reported by AllAfrica on 5 November 2026.

According to the article, the lawmakers said the decision could harm U.S. economic interests, disrupt supply chains, and weaken opportunities for American manufacturers. They argued that AGOA has served as an important framework for U.S.-Africa trade ties, supporting African development while also creating commercial openings for U.S. companies. They also warned that removing South Africa from the program could give China a strategic advantage.

The statement called on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the White House to use the 60-day notification period to work with the South African government and try to resolve any eligibility concerns. The broader context is that AGOA is a long-running U.S. trade preference program aimed at expanding market access for qualifying African countries. AllAfrica’s report presents the lawmakers’ reaction to the administration’s decision, rather than an independent assessment of the trade policy itself.