The United States plans to remove South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), ending their preferential, duty-free access to the American market from January 1, 2027. The decision marks a further deterioration in relations between Washington and two African governments whose policies have increasingly clashed with the Trump administration. US officials said both countries had failed to meet the programme’s eligibility requirements, citing barriers to American trade and investment and concerns about national security and foreign policy. South Africa, AGOA’s largest beneficiary, exported approximately $1.7 billion in goods to the US under the programme in 2025, including motor vehicle components, agricultural products and wine. Rwanda’s key exports include coffee and minerals, although it has faced restrictions on apparel exports under AGOA since 2018. Pretoria says AGOA accounts for about 10% of its exports to the US and 1% of its global exports. While the immediate economic impact may be concentrated in particular industries, the decision raises wider questions about US-Africa trade relations, political conditionality and the continent’s efforts to diversify export markets.