Trump cuts South Africa, Rwanda from AGOA trade program
The president formally notified Congress and both governments of his decision on Monday.
President Donald Trump has announced plans to remove South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program next year, according to a statement from the Office of the US Trade Representative. AGOA, a flagship US trade agreement, provides duty-free access to the US market for eligible African nations.
US Trade Representative Jamie Greer cited "concerning and pervasive" practices in Pretoria and Kigali that violate AGOA's eligibility criteria, including barriers that hinder American trade and investment and pose threats to US national security and foreign policy interests. The decision follows months of tension between Washington and Pretoria, which includes South Africa's alleged "genocide" against white citizens and the US's suspension of PEPFAR aid to the country.
South African Trade Minister Parks Tau emphasized that the decision does not define the broader relationship between the nations, stating that South Africa will continue pursuing trade, investment, and shared economic opportunities with the US. In contrast, Rwanda's involvement in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo led to US sanctions on its military, further fueling the dispute.
South Africa stands to lose the most from the AGOA removal, as it is the largest beneficiary of the program, exporting about $1.7 billion worth of goods in 2025. The decision may result in higher costs for certain exports and potentially impact thousands of jobs in southern Africa.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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