South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country must prepare for the possibility of losing access to the US market under AGOA, the African Growth and Opportunity Act. He warns the impact would be “devastating,” particularly in terms of jobs, as tensions with Washington raise uncertainty over South Africa’s continued eligibility.
AGOA provides duty-free access for eligible sub-Saharan African countries, with the scheme renewed until the end of 2028. Outlets report that Ramaphosa’s message is a readiness warning rather than a confirmation of immediate exclusion, reflecting concerns about how US policy decisions could affect trade terms for South Africa and the sectors tied to exports to the United States.
While coverage varies in emphasis—some focus on the job risks and broader fallout, others underline the renewed timeline—the common theme is that South Africa is planning for potential changes to its preferential trading status with the US and the domestic consequences if that access is reduced or removed.
