In a press release issued on November 2, 2026, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced President Trump’s intention to terminate Rwanda and South Africa’s participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program.
The announcement follows the annual interagency review of AGOA eligibility, during which USTR identified what it described as “concerning practices” by both governments. These include barriers that undermine U.S. trade and investment, as well as actions considered threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests in the region.
The proposed termination of AGOA benefits for Rwanda and South Africa is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
For additional details, please refer to the [USTR press release here].
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