US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Monday that Washington intends to suspend South Africa and Rwanda from duty-free access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
“President Trump found that the governments of Rwanda and South Africa are engaging in practices that are inconsistent with AGOA’s eligibility criteria.
“These concerning and pervasive practices include, but are not limited to, barriers that undermine American trade and investment and practices that pose a threat to US national security and foreign policy interests in the region,” said Jamieson Greer in a statement.
Duty-free access
AGOA gives eligible African countries duty-free access to the US market for thousands of products. South Africa has benefited from it for years.
President Donald Trump’s administration has cracked down on South Africa for what Trump claims is its persecution of white people. South Africa’s government says this is a falsehood spread by fringe groups.
Washington highlighted trade barriers, rule of law and human rights as among issues it is deeply concerned about in Rwanda.
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