US to suspend South Africa and Rwanda from duty-free trade access

What the report says

The United States plans to suspend South Africa and Rwanda from duty-free access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, with the change set to take effect on January 1, 2027, according to Al Jazeera’s report citing a statement from US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The decision affects two of Africa’s AGOA beneficiaries and follows Washington’s annual review of whether countries still meet the programme’s eligibility standards.

Al Jazeera reported that South Africa is the larger commercial case, with about $1.7bn in exports to the US under AGOA in 2025. Goods sent through the programme include motor vehicles and parts, farm products and wine. The report said the US raised concerns about trade barriers, corruption, and broader national security and foreign policy issues. Rwanda was also cited over trade barriers, rule of law and human rights concerns; it had previously been suspended from AGOA in 2018.

The article also placed the move in a wider context of strained relations between Washington and Pretoria. The Trump administration has criticized South Africa on several fronts, while South Africa has said it is preparing for the possibility of losing AGOA benefits and looking for alternative markets. Under the programme, eligible countries are expected to show progress on market-based economics, governance, and openness to trade and investment. The report noted no immediate response from either government.