The Trump administration has notified Congress that it intends to end South Africa's and Rwanda's eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act on Jan. 1, 2027, after an annual review found both governments out of step with the program's rules^2,3,5.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the review found practices inconsistent with AGOA criteria, including barriers to American trade and investment and conduct Washington ties to national security and foreign-policy interests^2,3,5.

For South Africa, Greer also cited corruption; for Rwanda, Washington additionally listed human rights, political pluralism, the rule of law and workers' rights^3,5. DW reported that Greer's statement did not give specific examples of the trade barriers or security issues⁵.

AGOA, enacted in 2000, lets eligible sub-Saharan countries ship more than 1,800 products to the United States without ordinary import duties^3,5. South Africa has been the program's largest beneficiary, with about $1.7 billion in AGOA-covered goods in 2025, including vehicles and parts, citrus and wine^2,5.

Pretoria said those shipments were roughly 10 percent of its U.S. exports and about 1 percent of its global exports, and that most U.S.-bound goods already move on ordinary terms^2,4.

House Foreign Affairs ranking member Gregory Meeks and Senate Foreign Relations ranking member Jeanne Shaheen said the move risked U.S. economic interests and could cede influence to China, and they called on USTR to use the 60-day notice period for talks¹. They said walking away from the partnership was shortsighted¹.

Rep. Richard Neal, ranking Democrat on Ways and Means, said the decision was grounded in grievance rather than responsible policy, according to The Japan Times⁶.

South Africa's government said the United States remains an important partner, that it had offered further concessions, and that it would keep talking while looking for other markets^2,4,5. President Cyril Ramaphosa called the exclusion a setback that could open talks on a bilateral deal; Trade Minister Parks Tau said Pretoria has 60 days to appeal and that trade with the United States would not end⁴.

Cosatu's Matthew Parks estimated most likely 3,000 job losses and at most 10,000, concentrated in agriculture and manufacturing, including Western Cape citrus towns^2,4. Citrus growers said the United States takes 5 to 6 percent of South Africa's citrus volume but that orchards in the Western and Northern Cape were planted for that market and cannot easily shift^2,6.

Rwanda's exclusion follows U.S. Treasury sanctions on its defense ministry over alleged support for M23 rebels in eastern Congo, which Kigali denies^3,5. What remains unknown is whether either government will regain eligibility before 2027, and how large the net job and export losses will be^2,4.