According to a news report [3] from China Daily, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer recently said that President Donald Trump had determined that South Africa and Rwanda were engaging in practices inconsistent with the eligibility criteria of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. The United States plans to suspend the two countries’ duty-free access to the U.S. market effective Jan. 1, 2027.

In 2025, South Africa exported approximately $1.7 billion worth of goods to the United States under the AGOA, mainly including automotive parts, citrus fruits and wine. Rwanda’s exports under the program included coffee and minerals.

The U.S. decision has put trade pressure on both countries, prompting them to look beyond the U.S. market, with China emerging as a key destination in their efforts to diversify exports.

Parks Tau, South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, highlighted the vast potential of the Chinese market, as well as significant opportunities in ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand, and in Europe. He said that the South African government would continue to step up efforts to diversify its export markets, noting that new market access opportunities had already been secured for South African citrus [4], avocados, grapes and apples.

In late 2025, fresh South African peaches, nectarines, plums (including sugar plums) and apricots gained access to the Chinese market. Fresh cherries were also granted market access [5] in September 2026 and are expected to make their debut in China before the end of the year. Meanwhile, China’s expanded zero-tariff policy, which covers 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, has helped drive a significant increase in South African fruit exports to China, including apples [6].

Although Rwanda has yet to publicly respond to the latest U.S. decision, its government had previously identified China as a target market in its broader trade diversification efforts. Other target markets include the European Union, the African Continental Free Trade Area and neighboring countries within the East African Community.

Image: Hortgro Pome

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article [7].