# US plans to end duty-free trade access for South Africa and Rwanda in 2027

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/trump-to-remove-rwanda-and-south-africa-from-us-trade-deal/
- Published: 2026-11-02T19:33:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T20:32:35+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9j346xg0mkvo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Africa, Americas, Geopolitics, Politics, World

## Key points

- The US plans to remove South Africa and Rwanda from Agoa in 2027.
- The programme gives eligible African exports duty-free access to the US.
- Washington cited trade, governance and security concerns.

## Summary

Donald Trump has notified Congress that the US intends to remove South Africa and Rwanda from a preferential trade programme from 1 January 2027. The proposed change could make thousands of products from the two countries subject to US tariffs, adding to already strained relations with Washington.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act allows eligible African countries to export thousands of products to the US duty-free. The US cited trade and investment barriers, national security and foreign policy concerns; it also raised human rights, political pluralism, rule of law and workers’ rights in Rwanda, and corruption in South Africa. The announcement follows US sanctions on Rwanda’s defence ministry over its alleged support for M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.