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The Trump administration wants to withdraw from Rwanda and South Africa their preferential access to the US market, within the framework of AGOA, an agreement that allows more than thirty African countries to export their products to the United States without tariffs. For Kigali, this decision comes in full tension with Washington around the war in eastern DR Congo.
The US imposed sanctions on Rwanda's army over its role in the conflict in DR Congo.
South African and Rwandan exporters are weighing potential job losses and squeezed margins after Washington decided to exclude them from the AGOA program, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, ending the countries' duty-free access to the US market. Economists warned against "alarmist" reactions to the exclusion and argue the broader economic fallout will likely be limited.
In tonight's edition, Rwanda and South Africa will lose their duty-free access to the U.S. market after being excluded from the AGOA trade program. Also, South Africans head to the polls amid water shortages and frustration with local services. And in the DRC's mining capital, Kolwezi, residents are taking on one of the country's largest Chinese-owned mines... accusing it of poisoning their environment.
The Trump administration has said South Africa and Rwanda are breaking the rules of the AGOA free trade initiative, a centerpiece of US economic engagement with sub-Saharan Africa.
South Africa to lose duty-free access, affecting $1.7bn worth of annual exports, including cars and farm products.
The move comes barely a week after Rwanda's defence ministry was hit with sanctions by the US Treasury.
