US President Donald Trump’s 30% tariff on South Africa has dealt a blow to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is due to expire in September 2025. AGOA provides duty-free access to eligible sub-Saharan African countries for thousands of products, aimed at promoting economic growth through exports.

Thirty-two countries are eligible for AGOA.

In 2024, South Africa accounted for almost half ($3.8-billion) of the $7.9-billion in US imports under AGOA, followed by Nigeria ($1.6-billion) and Kenya ($567-million), according to US International Trade Commission data.

Nigeria mainly exports crude oil, while Kenya’s key exports are textiles.

Roughly 25% of South Africa’s total exports to the US fall under AGOA, according to a 2025 Parliamentary Budget Office report.

South Africa’s top AGOA export is transport equipment.