US to Suspend South Africa and Rwanda From Duty Free AGOA Access in 2027

The United States will suspend South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, known as AGOA, from January 1, 2027. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the decision on Monday, November 2, 2026. President Trump notified Congress and both governments of his intent to terminate their designation under the program. The move is a notice of intent with 60 days advance warning. It is not an immediate cutoff, and it is not a ban on goods from either country. AGOA continues for other eligible countries.

Greer said the annual interagency eligibility review, led by the Office of the US Trade Representative, found both governments engaging in practices inconsistent with the criteria for the program. "President Trump found that the governments of Rwanda and South Africa are engaging in practices that are inconsistent with AGOA's eligibility criteria," Greer said in the USTR statement reported by Reuters.

Why Washington cited each country

For South Africa, the US Trade Representative cited barriers to US trade and investment, corruption, and threats to US national security and foreign policy interests. For Rwanda, it cited trade and investment barriers, and concerns over the rule of law, political pluralism, workers rights, human rights, and national security and foreign policy. AGOA was enacted in 2000. It gives eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty free access to the US market for thousands of products, and Reuters called it the centerpiece of US economic engagement with Africa.

What trade is at risk

South Africa was the largest AGOA beneficiary. It exported about 1.7 billion dollars of goods to the United States under AGOA in 2025, mainly vehicle parts, citrus and wine. That was about 10 percent of its exports to the United States and about 1 percent of its global exports. The exports at risk in this decision include South African auto parts, citrus and wine, and Rwandan coffee.

Rwanda has lived with a partial limit for years. It has been under a partial AGOA suspension since 2018, barring duty free apparel exports, over import tariffs the United States considers a barrier. The new decision would end its remaining eligibility from January 1, 2027, unless the position changes before that date.

South Africa responds, Rwanda has not yet

South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said late on Monday that it noted the 60 days advance notice. It said it would support affected sectors on a company by company basis, accelerate export diversification, and continue engaging the United States. Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau said: "This decision does not define the broader relationship between South Africa and the United States, however a solution depends on the willingness of both Parties to find solutions. At the same time, government will support affected sectors, protect South Africa's national interests and continue pursuing trade, investment and shared economic opportunities with the United States."

South Africa also said it had tabled additional concessions beyond those made in 2015. It called it unfortunate that the United States was raising new issues that were not part of the negotiations that began in 2025. No immediate response from Rwanda was reported.

The notice period runs to January 1, 2027, and South Africa says talks will continue in that window.