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"Harming US trade and investment and threatening US national security and interests"
Background: Allegations of discrimination against whites in South Africa and Rwanda undermining Trump's peace achievements
The United States has decided to exclude South Africa and Rwanda from its duty-free trade preference program for African countries, Reuters and AFP reported on the 2nd (local time).
Jamison Greer, Chief of Staff for the US Trade Representative (USTR), announced that trade preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for South Africa and Rwanda would be suspended starting January 1 next year.
As reasons, he cited barriers that hinder US trade and investment, and practices that threaten US national security and foreign policy interests in the region.
Greer explained, "President Donald Trump determined that the governments of South Africa and Rwanda are continuing practices inconsistent with AGOA eligibility requirements."
Enacted in 2000, AGOA is a system that allows sub-Saharan African countries to export thousands of products to the United States duty-free. It has been extended until the end of 2028, but eligibility is reviewed annually.
South Africa, the largest beneficiary of AGOA, exported goods worth approximately $1.7 billion (about 2.3 trillion won) to the United States through this system last year. Major export items include automotive parts, citrus fruits, and wine.
The Citrus Growers' Association of South Africa (CGA) expressed concern that the US decision would be a "severe blow" to the industry, threatening jobs and the local economy.
South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry expressed regret in a statement that the US raised issues not brought up in previous negotiations, adding that it would support affected industries and accelerate the diversification of export markets.
The US has been intensifying pressure on South Africa, alleging that the South African government discriminates against white residents, and also taking issue with South Africa's genocide lawsuit against Israel.
Rwanda is facing economic pressure from the US over allegations of supporting the M23 rebel group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, the Rwandan government denies allegations of links to M23.
Last week, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added Rwanda's Ministry of Defense and one financial institution to its new sanctions list, stating that Rwanda had violated a peace agreement with the DRC, brokered by President Trump last year, and was supporting M23.
President Trump has asserted his eligibility for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing the peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC as one of his foreign policy achievements to support this claim.
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