Tariff Exemption Fallout

The United States plans to end South Africa’s and Rwanda’s duty-free access under the AGOA program starting January 1, 2027, saying their governments do not meet eligibility standards. U.S. concerns include trade barriers and corruption in South Africa, and trade issues, human rights, and the rule of law in Rwanda. The decision could affect South African exports worth $1.7 billion under the program in 2025, with agriculture and citrus particularly exposed. Its impact on Rwanda is likely to be limited, as the country exported $43.3 million to the United States. Pretoria said it would support affected businesses and seek to diversify export markets, while U.S. Democratic lawmakers called for clarification on how the two countries could rejoin the program.

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