South Africa’s response to its termination from AGOA, effective Jan. 1, 2027, is to minimize the decision and to question Washington’s motivations. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said Pretoria had already offered concessions in talks begun in 2025, and Trade Minister Parks Tau called it “unfortunate that the US is now raising new issues that have not been the basis for discussions.” Trump’s Oct. 28 letter to President Ramaphosa cites corruption, trade barriers, and “relations with governments of concern” that “risk undermining US national security and foreign policy.” The numbers explain why South Africa is not concerned: the country’s AGOA exports had already fallen from about $4 billion in 2024 to $1.7 billion in 2025 under Trump’s tariffs (about 1% of its total exports). Pretoria says it will keep its post-tariff support measures, remain open to negotiation, and accelerate diversification toward the EU, China, India, the UK and the rest of Africa.