Trump to remove Rwanda and South Africa from US trade deal
The move comes barely a week after Rwanda's defence ministry was hit with sanctions by the US Treasury.
Trump moves to exclude Rwanda and South Africa from US trade pact
Last year, Trump accused South Africa of white genocide during a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House.
US President Donald Trump has informed Congress that he plans to remove South Africa and Rwanda from a preferential trade programme starting 1 January 2027.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) lets qualifying African nations export thousands of goods to the US without paying duties.
In a statement, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said an annual review had determined that both countries were taking part in practices that do not align with the programme’s eligibility rules.
He also said the Trump administration had separately informed the two countries of the decision.
The Trump administration pointed to obstacles to US trade and investment, along with concerns about national security and foreign policy interests in the region.
In Rwanda’s case, Washington also cited concerns about human rights, political pluralism, the rule of law and workers’ rights.
The decision comes just a week after Rwanda’s defence ministry was sanctioned by the US Treasury over its alleged involvement in the armed rebellion in eastern DR Congo.
The US Treasury said Rwanda’s defence ministry had directed thousands of troops to fight alongside M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo, supplying weapons, equipment, logistics and training.
In South Africa’s case, the US also raised corruption concerns.
“The Trump administration is working to ensure our African partners take the necessary steps to meet the eligibility criteria,” Greer said.
The announcement comes amid tense relations between Washington and both countries, with the planned termination threatening their access to preferential trade arrangements with the US.
Last year, Trump accused South Africa of white genocide in a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa at the White House and launched a US refugee pathway for Afrikaners.
US Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III said it was regrettable that South African policies had led to its removal from Agoa.
“This was a predictable and preventable outcome resulting from the rejection by South Africa’s government of real concerns raised by the US,” he wrote on X.