US President Donald Trump has announced his administration’s intention to remove South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a preferential trade programme that permits eligible African nations to export thousands of products to the United States without tariffs. The removal is scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027, following what officials characterized as an annual review of programme compliance.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated that both nations were found to be engaging in practices inconsistent with the initiative’s eligibility requirements. The Trump administration cited multiple concerns including barriers to American trade and investment, issues related to national security, and foreign policy interests in the region. For South Africa specifically, the US pointed to corruption as a key factor in the decision. Both countries have been formally notified of the determination.
South Africa’s Trade Minister Parks Tau characterized the decision as regrettable, noting that the United States had raised new issues that had not been discussed during ongoing trade negotiations that commenced in 2025. Tau indicated the country would focus on diversifying its export markets to maintain employment levels. The US Ambassador to South Africa stated the outcome was preventable, suggesting it resulted from South African government policies.
Regarding Rwanda, Washington raised additional concerns encompassing human rights practices, political pluralism, adherence to the rule of law, and workers’ rights. The timing of the announcement follows recent sanctions imposed by the US Treasury on Rwanda’s defence ministry over allegations of involvement in armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Treasury claimed the ministry had directed thousands of troops to support M23 rebels, providing weapons, equipment, logistics and training. Rwanda has denied these allegations.
The move reflects broader tensions between the Trump administration and both African nations and represents a significant threat to their preferential access to American markets.
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