US drops South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA duty-free trade program
Washington has excluded South Africa and Rwanda from AGOA, ending their duty-free access to the US market. Exporters fear job losses, while economists say the wider damage will likely be limited.
Washington decided to exclude South Africa and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA. The program gave eligible countries duty-free access to the US market, and that access now ends for these two.
Exporters in both countries are weighing possible job losses and squeezed margins. Economists warned against "alarmist" reactions and argued the broader economic fallout will likely be limited.
South African officials said the exclusion does not mean an end to trade with the US.
Background
AGOA is the African Growth and Opportunity Act, a US trade program.
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