US moves to terminate South Africa’s AGOA trade benefits from January 2027

Source Office of the US Trade Representative

NATIONAL NEWS – The United States intends to remove South Africa from its African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference programme from 1 January 2027, potentially affecting the country’s access to preferential trade terms in the American market.

US President Donald Trump has notified Congress and the governments of South Africa and Rwanda of his intention to terminate their participation in the programme, according to a statement issued by US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer on 2 November.

The announcement follows an annual review of sub-Saharan African countries' eligibility for AGOA, led by the Office of the United States Trade Representative.

Greer said the US administration had concluded that both countries were engaging in practices inconsistent with the programme's eligibility requirements.

In South Africa's case, the US cited what it described as barriers to American trade and investment, corruption, and concerns relating to US national security and foreign policy interests.

The administration said it wanted its African trading partners to take the necessary steps to meet AGOA's eligibility criteria.

AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with preferential, duty-free access to the US market for thousands of products. Losing this status could affect South African exporters who rely on the trade benefits to remain competitive in the American market.

The proposed termination is set to take effect on 1 January 2027.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’ 

Read more about: us trade agoa agriculture

Add George Herald as a preferred source to see more of our reporting in Google News and Top Stories.

I'm a 64 year old man looking to meet women between the ages of 45 and 57. View Profile

I'm a 53 year old man looking to meet women between the ages of 25 and 60. View Profile

I'm a 56 year old woman looking to meet men between the ages of 50 and 69. View Profile

I'm a 48 year old woman looking to meet men between the ages of 40 and 55. View Profile

George Herald proudly displays the “FAIR” stamp of the Press Council of South Africa, indicating our commitment to adhere to the Code of Ethics for Print and online media which prescribes that our reportage is truthful, accurate and fair. Should you wish to lodge a complaint about our news coverage, please lodge a complaint on the Press Council’s website, www.presscouncil.org.za or email the complaint to [email protected]. Contact the Press Council on 0114843612.