The United States will remove South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA, its main trade preference programme for Africa. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the decision on Monday. According to the Eastleigh Voice, President Donald Trump has formally notified Congress and both governments. AFP reported that the exclusions take effect on January 1.
Greer said Trump had found that both governments engaged in practices "inconsistent" with AGOA's eligibility criteria. He listed barriers to US trade and investment and threats to US national security and foreign policy interests. For South Africa, Washington also cited corruption. The Eastleigh Voice reported that Rwanda faces wider concerns, including the rule of law, political pluralism, workers' rights and human rights. Greer urged both countries to address the concerns before the termination takes effect.
South Africa is AGOA's largest beneficiary. Trade Minister Parks Tau said AGOA exports were worth about $1.7 billion in 2025, down from $4 billion in 2024. Only about 10% of South African exports to the US used the programme in 2025, compared with 28% a year earlier. Tau called it "unfortunate" that Washington had raised new issues despite extra concessions from Pretoria. He said the government would support affected companies and push to diversify export markets.
Citrus growers called the decision "a serious blow". Gerrit van der Merwe, chairman of the Citrus Growers' Association, said whole towns depend on US trade. He named Citrusdal as an example. He said growers cannot easily send fruit elsewhere because markets have different rules and tastes. The union federation Cosatu said thousands of farm and factory jobs are at risk, the Daily Maverick reported.
Not everyone expects disaster. Wandile Sihlobo, President Ramaphosa's envoy on agriculture, told the Daily Maverick that losing AGOA is not a ban from the US market. He said some products now taxed at 12.5% would face 15.9% without AGOA.
For Rwanda, the move adds to US pressure over its alleged backing of the M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo. AFP reported that the US sanctioned Rwanda's defence ministry last week. Kigali denies the ties. Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told AFP that Rwanda must not be a "scapegoat" for events in Congo. In 2018, Washington suspended duty-free treatment for Rwandan clothing after Kigali restricted imports of US second-hand clothes.
Any removal requires 60 days' notice to Congress and the country concerned, AFP reported. Tau said last Thursday that South Africa would have 60 days to appeal before any suspension took effect.