The United States plans to suspend South Africa and Rwanda from duty-free access to its market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced this on November 2, 2026. AGOA allows eligible African countries to export thousands of products to the US without paying duties. This decision comes after a review of the countries' eligibility for the programme.
South Africa, the programme's largest beneficiary, exported goods worth about $1.7 billion to the US under AGOA in 2025. The eligibility requirements for AGOA include maintaining market-based economies, upholding the rule of law and good governance, protecting human rights, and reducing barriers to US trade and investment. Both countries have been found to be engaging in practices inconsistent with AGOA's eligibility criteria.
The US cited trade barriers, rule-of-law concerns, and human rights issues in Rwanda as reasons for the suspension. Rwanda previously faced suspension from AGOA benefits in 2018. In South Africa's case, the US raised concerns over barriers to trade and investment, corruption, and issues relating to its national security and foreign policy interests.
The decision comes amid strained relations between Washington and Pretoria. President Donald Trump's administration has accused South Africa of persecuting white people, a claim the South African government has rejected as false. The US has also criticised South Africa's foreign policy, particularly its case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice.
South Africa's trade ministry said last week that the country was prepared for an unfavourable outcome from the eligibility review and remained open to dialogue with Washington. The ministry said exports under AGOA accounted for about 10 percent of South Africa's total exports to the US and one percent of its global exports.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the country is preparing for possible exclusion from the programme by seeking alternative markets and strengthening trade partnerships, including with China. This move is aimed at reducing South Africa's dependence on the US market and mitigating the potential impact of the suspension.
Neither South Africa nor Rwanda had immediately commented on the announcement. The suspension of South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA is expected to have significant implications for their economies, particularly for businesses that rely on duty-free access to the US market.
Key points
- The US plans to suspend South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA due to inconsistent practices with the programme's eligibility criteria.
- South Africa's exports under AGOA accounted for about 10 percent of its total exports to the US.
- The suspension comes amid strained relations between Washington and Pretoria.
