US moves to end South Africa's duty-free Agoa access
US trade representative Jamieson Greer said on Monday that President Donald Trump found South Africa and Rwanda engage in practices inconsistent with Agoa rules. Washington told Congress the two countries would lose eligibility from January 1.
Greer said the US is concerned by barriers to US trade and investment, corruption, and threats to US national security and foreign policy interests in South Africa. The office of the US trade representative also accused South Africa of high tariffs on US poultry, wine and spirits, and of unjustified animal health limits on US pork.
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau said Agoa remains important but is not the whole economic relationship with the US. He said government will speed up the diversification of export markets to protect jobs. Tau also said the US is raising new issues that were not part of talks that began in 2025.
Cosatu said thousands of agricultural and manufacturing jobs are at risk. The Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa called the exclusion a blow to the industry. Its chief executive, Boitshoko Ntshabele, said the US consumer will lose too.
Reports put Agoa goods at about 10% of South Africa's exports to the US in 2025. Tau said 89% of South African exports entered the US under ordinary World Trade Organisation terms that year.
Key facts
- Who
- Parks Tau (Trade Minister of South Africa); South African Revenue Service (source of export data on AGOA vehicle exports); United States (announced intention to suspend SA and Rwanda from AGOA); Trump administration (US government that announced the suspension)
- What
- South Africa's government said on Monday that the US was raising new issues not previously part of AGOA negotiations, despite extra concessions offered by Pretoria. The US decision, which also affects Rwanda, adds uncertainty for exporters relying on AGOA preferential access.
- When
- 2 November 2026
- Where
- South Africa, United States, Rwanda
- Status
- Reported