US to Suspend South Africa and Rwanda From Duty-Free Trade Access

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Washington intends to suspend South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants eligible African countries duty-free access to the U.S. market. The suspensions are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027. The administration cited concerns about trade barriers, governance, human rights and policies it says threaten U.S. interests. South Africa was AGOA’s largest beneficiary, exporting about $1.7 billion in goods to the U.S. under the program in 2025.