The United States has formally notified Congress and the governments of South Africa and Rwanda that their eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) will be terminated, with the loss of duty‑free access taking effect in January 2027.

The announcement was made on 2 November by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) following its annual review of sub‑Saharan African participants in the programme.

USTR Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the review identified practices in both countries that breach AGOA’s eligibility criteria, including barriers to American trade and investment and issues that threaten US national security and foreign policy interests.

For Rwanda, the USTR highlighted a broader set of concerns such as weaknesses in the rule of law, limited political pluralism, inadequate workers’ rights, and broader human‑rights issues, alongside the trade‑related barriers.

The United States indicated it remains open to dialogue, urging both governments to address the cited concerns before the termination date to potentially reverse the decision.

South Africa is the programme’s largest beneficiary, having exported roughly $1.7 billion (Sh220.9 billion) of goods to the US in 2025, including vehicles, agricultural products, clothing and manufactured items.

The South African government, through Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau, has submitted proposals to address US concerns and is seeking negotiations to preserve the trade arrangement.

Rwanda previously faced a partial suspension of duty‑free treatment for apparel in 2018 after restricting imports of second‑hand US clothing, illustrating a history of compliance challenges under AGOA.

AGOA, established in 2000, grants eligible sub‑Saharan African nations duty‑free access to the US market for over 1,800 products and was extended through 31 December 2026 after a one‑year reauthorisation signed by President Trump in February.