South Africa not Eligible for Duty-Free Entry in US under AGOA from Next Year, Rwanda Also Out

[ABS News Service/03.11.2026]

South Africa and Rwanda are being removed from the African Growth and Opportunity Act program, according to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

President Trump is notifying Congress and the two countries that their AGOA benefits are being terminated effective January 1, 2027.

Based on USTR’s annual review of sub-Saharan African countries’ eligibility for AGOA,

Mr. Trump “found that the governments of Rwanda and South Africa are engaging in practices that are inconsistent with AGOA’s eligibility criteria,” Mr. Greer said.

“These concerning and pervasive practices include, but are not limited to, barriers that undermine American trade and investment and practices that pose a threat to US national security and foreign policy interests in the region,” he continued.

President Trump has been highly critical of South Africa since the beginning of his second term.

South African officials have publicly said recently that they expected to lose AGOA benefits, despite negotiations.

According to USTR, the Administration is deeply concerned by barriers to US trade and investment, corruption and threats to US national security and foreign policy interests.

South Africa has historically been the biggest beneficiary under AGOA, having exported some $1.7 billion duty-free in 2025.

In Rwanda, US concerns include trade and investment barriers, rule of law, political pluralism, internationally recognized worker rights, human rights and threats to US national security and foreign policy interests.