Rwanda faces the loss of preferential access to the United States market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) from January 1, 2027, after President Donald Trump announced his intention to terminate the country’s participation in the trade programme alongside South Africa.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the planned move on November 2, saying Trump had notified Congress and the governments of both countries of his intention to end their eligibility.
The decision follows an annual review of sub-Saharan African countries’ participation in AGOA, conducted by the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Greer said the review found that the governments of Rwanda and South Africa were engaging in practices inconsistent with the programme’s eligibility requirements.
For Rwanda, the US administration cited concerns over trade and investment barriers, the rule of law, political pluralism, internationally recognised workers’ rights, human rights and what it described as threats to US national security and foreign policy interests in the region.
The statement did not provide specific examples of the alleged barriers or explain which particular actions by Rwanda had prompted the decision.
AGOA, established in 2000, gives eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US market for more than 1,800 products. The programme is intended to promote trade and investment by allowing qualifying goods to enter the American market without the tariffs normally applied to imports.
Rwanda’s exports to the US include coffee and minerals, according to Reuters. Losing AGOA preferences would mean that qualifying products would no longer benefit from the programme’s duty-free treatment if the proposed termination takes effect.
The announcement does not mean that Rwandan goods would be barred from the US market. Rather, affected exports would lose the preferential tariff treatment available under AGOA and could face the normal import duties applicable to their products.
Rwanda has previously faced a partial suspension under the programme. In 2018, the US suspended duty-free treatment for Rwandan apparel exports following a dispute over restrictions on imports of used clothing. The latest announcement concerns the country’s wider eligibility for AGOA.
Greer said the Trump administration was working to ensure African partners take the necessary steps to meet the programme’s eligibility criteria.
South Africa, which was also named in the announcement, is AGOA’s largest beneficiary. Reuters reported that it exported about $1.7 billion worth of goods to the US under the programme in 2025.
The US statement did not outline a specific process or timetable for Rwanda to address the concerns before the proposed January 2027 termination.
The announcement therefore leaves questions over the possible effects on Rwandan exporters and whether further engagement between Kigali and Washington could change the decision before it takes effect.
