US to withdraw Rwanda, South Africa from AGOA in January 2027

US President Donald Trump has notified Congress and the governments of Rwanda and South Africa of his intention to terminate the two countries’ eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), effective January 1, 2027.

The announcement was made on November 2, 2026, by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, following an annual review of sub-Saharan African countries participating in the trade preference programme.

AGOA, established in 2000, provides eligible African countries with duty-free access to the American market for thousands of products, helping exporters from the continent compete in one of the world's largest consumer markets.

In a statement, Greer said the review found that Rwanda and South Africa were engaging in practices inconsistent with the programme’s eligibility requirements.

He cited barriers affecting American trade and investment, as well as concerns over national security and US foreign policy interests in the region.

According to the US Trade Representative’s Office, Washington has raised several concerns regarding Rwanda, including trade and investment barriers, the rule of law, political pluralism, internationally recognised workers’ rights and human rights.

The American administration also cited concerns relating to South Africa, particularly barriers to US trade and investment, corruption and issues affecting American national security and foreign policy interests.

Greer said the Trump administration was working to ensure that its African partners take the necessary steps to meet AGOA’s eligibility requirements.

However, the announcement did not provide specific examples of the alleged trade barriers or other practices that prompted the decision.

The move comes amid deteriorating relations between Washington and Pretoria, with disagreements over South Africa’s domestic policies, its foreign relations and its position on international affairs.

Rwanda’s relations with Washington have also faced challenges, particularly over the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The decision could have implications for exporters in both countries, as losing AGOA benefits would mean that qualifying products could no longer enjoy the programme’s preferential duty-free treatment when entering the US market.

South Africa is the largest beneficiary of AGOA, with exports worth approximately $1.7 billion under the programme in 2025, including vehicles, automotive components, citrus products and wine.

For Rwanda, the programme has provided opportunities for exporters of products including coffee and minerals, although the country’s apparel sector previously lost AGOA benefits in 2018 following a dispute over restrictions on second-hand clothing imports.

Rwanda has participated in AGOA since the programme was established in 2000.