U.S. to Terminate Rwanda and South Africa From AGOA Effective January 1, 2027
Published Nov. 2, 2026
Key Points
- President Trump found that both governments are engaging in practices inconsistent with AGOA’s eligibility criteria.
- USTR cites barriers that undermine American trade and investment and practices that threaten U.S. national security and foreign policy interests in the region.
- Rwanda: trade and investment barriers, rule of law, political pluralism, worker rights, human rights, and national security and foreign policy concerns.
- South Africa: barriers to U.S. trade and investment, corruption, and national security and foreign policy concerns.
- The statement doesn’t list affected products or provide CBP filing instructions.
President 
Trump has notified Congress and the governments of Rwanda and South Africa of his intent to terminate both countries from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program as of January 1, 2027. In a November 2, 2026 statement, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the annual interagency review of sub-Saharan African countries’ AGOA eligibility found practices inconsistent with the program’s criteria. USTR cites barriers to U.S. trade and investment and threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.
Ambassador Greer’s Statement
In USTR’S press release, Ambassador Jamieson Greer explained the basis for the President’s decision.
“The Office of the United States Trade Representative led the annual interagency review of sub-Saharan African countries’ eligibility for the AGOA trade preference program. Based on the review, President Trump found that the governments of Rwanda and South Africa are engaging in practices that are inconsistent with AGOA’s eligibility criteria. These concerning and pervasive practices include, but are not limited to, barriers that undermine American trade and investment and practices that pose a threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests in the region. The Trump Administration is working to ensure our African partners take the necessary steps to meet the eligibility criteria.”
Rwanda
- Trade and investment barriers
- Rule of law
- Political pluralism
- Internationally recognized worker rights
- Human rights
- Threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests
South Africa
- Barriers to U.S. trade and investment
- Corruption
- Threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests
Background
AGOA was enacted in 2000, and USTR describes it as a core part of U.S. economic policy and commercial engagement with Africa. A sub-Saharan African country is eligible only if the President determines it meets the AGOA eligibility criteria in section 104 of AGOA and section 502 of the Trade Act of 1974.
USTR runs the eligibility review every year. The 2027 review, the 26th, was announced in a Federal Register notice published June 30, 2026, and applies to AGOA “if reauthorized.”
Under the announcement, Rwanda and South Africa would lose their AGOA benefits as of January 1, 2027.
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