US to remove South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA trade preferences

· Retail & E-commerce · United States · South Africa

The Trump administration announced this week that Rwanda and South Africa will be removed from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the US trade preference program that grants eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the American market. The decision affects export sectors that have relied on AGOA, including apparel and other manufactured goods that supply US retailers and brands. For sourcing executives, losing eligibility means tariffs return on goods from those countries, potentially shifting orders toward other AGOA members or alternative suppliers. The move lands at a time when apparel supply chains are already being reorganized, making country-of-origin decisions more consequential for cost and lead times.

Why it matters：Removing countries from a duty-free trade program forces apparel and retail sourcing teams to rethink country-of-origin planning and costs across African supply chains.

Key points

  • Rwanda and South Africa lose AGOA eligibility.
  • The program gives duty-free US market access to eligible African countries.
  • Apparel and manufactured exports that supply US brands are directly affected.

Sources (original reporting)

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