The United States announces it plans to remove South Africa from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade programme, ending the country’s duty-free access. The US says South Africa has “constructively responded” to its concerns, and the change is set to take effect from next year, with the US notifying Congress of its intention.

Both reports link the move to widening diplomatic and policy frictions between Washington and Pretoria. While one outlet focuses on the immediate “what now?” implications and points to experts weighing in, the other emphasises the reasons cited in the formal notification to lawmakers, including trade, national security and foreign policy considerations. Together, the coverage shows uncertainty around the timeline and effects for exporters, alongside the US government’s stated rationale and process for changing AGOA eligibility.