South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the country to prepare for the possibility of losing preferential access to the United States market under a key African trade programme, amid worsening relations between the two countries. The African Growth and Opportunity Act, known as AGOA, allows eligible African countries to export certain goods to the United States duty-free. The programme has been renewed by the US Congress until the end of 2028, but the extension is awaiting the signature of President Donald Trump. South Africa, the programme’s largest beneficiary, faces growing scrutiny from Washington over its continued eligibility. Ramaphosa says his government is exploring alternative export markets to cushion the impact of a possible exclusion. He warned that losing the trade benefits would have devastating consequences for the country, but urged South Africans not to panic. The country’s automotive industry is among the sectors at risk, as South African-made vehicles currently benefit from duty-free access to the American market.