Washington plans to remove Rwanda and South Africa from AGOA
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on United States Trade Representative
Donald Trump wants to remove Rwanda and South Africa from AGOA, the US programme granting trade preferences to sub-Saharan African countries, from 1 January 2027. The US administration believes the two governments no longer meet the programme’s eligibility criteria, according to Ambassador Jamieson Greer.
US President Donald Trump has notified Congress and the governments of Rwanda and South Africa of his intention to remove the two countries from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the US programme granting preferential market access. The measure would take effect on 1 January 2027, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced on Monday 2 November.
The Trump administration believes Rwanda fails to meet several AGOA criteria, including on trade and investment barriers, the rule of law, political pluralism, workers’ rights and human rights. It also accuses Kigali of practices that would threaten US national security and foreign policy interests. For South Africa, Washington cites barriers to US trade and investment, corruption and threats to its strategic interests, according to the US Trade Representative.
The announcement comes after Washington reviewed whether to maintain the trade benefits granted to South Africa under AGOA, a decision presented on 2 November.
