Here is what U.S. President Donald Trump told Cyril Ramaphosa

On Monday, 2 November 2026, the United States removed South Africa from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

This means that South Africa will lose its duty-free access to the United States in many key sectors, including agriculture and vehicle manufacturing.

Ambassador Jamieson Greer issued a statement following President Donald Trump’s notices to Congress and the South African government.

He notified the South African government of his intent to terminate the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program from 1 January 2027.

“The Office of the United States Trade Representative led the annual interagency review of sub-Saharan African countries’ eligibility for the AGOA program,” Greer said.

“Based on the review, President Trump found that the South African government is engaging in practices that are inconsistent with AGOA’s eligibility criteria.”

South Africa had been the largest beneficiary of AGOA, exporting more goods than any other country under the programme.

In 2025, South Africa exported goods worth $1.7 billion under AGOA, while total US imports under the programme were about $5 billion.

Freedom Front Plus leader Corné Mulder said that losing the AGOA benefits will have negative consequences for the country.

“It will result in substantial job losses, which the country simply cannot afford,” Mulder said in a statement.

“The general economy, and particularly sectors such as agriculture and the vehicle manufacturing industry, will be dealt a severe blow.”

He said that President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Minister of International Relations, Ronald Lamola, must shoulder the blame for this.

“Their refusal to comply with the United States’ requirements for normalising relations has brought about this disaster,” he said.

The letter below, from U.S. President Donald Trump sent to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, explains the decision.

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Letter from Donald Trump to Cyril Ramaphosa

Dear Mr. President:

By this letter, pursuant to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), I am providing 60-day advance notice to your government that I intend to terminate the designation of the Republic of South Africa (South Africa) as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under AGOA, effective January 1, 2027.

I am taking this step because I have determined that the Government of South Africa has not established, or is not making continual progress toward establishing, a system to combat corruption and bribery or the elimination of barriers to United States trade and investment, as required by section 104 of AGOA.

In addition, certain actions by the Government of South Africa on matters of international security and its relations and cooperation with governments of concern to the United States risk undermining United States national security and foreign policy.

In particular, South Africa continues to maintain significant tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting United States trade and investment, including barriers involving agricultural market access, regulatory requirements, investment protections, and intellectual property.

I will continue to monitor whether the Government of South Africa is making progress in addressing these concerns and meeting AGOA’s eligibility requirements.

It is my hope that your government will work closely with my Administration to address these issues so that South Africa can once again become eligible for AGOA benefits.

Sincerely,

Donald Trump

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