United States to suspend South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA trade program in 2027

On November 2, 2026, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced that the United States will suspend South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) duty-free trade program, effective January 1, 2027. The decision, communicated to Congress and the two governments, cites trade barriers and threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. South Africa, the program's largest beneficiary, exported $1.7 billion in goods under AGOA in 2025. The move follows U.S. criticism of South Africa's policies and its genocide case against Israel, and sanctions on Rwanda over its support for M23 rebels in Congo.