United States removes South Africa and Rwanda from African trade program

The United States has removed South Africa and Rwanda from a trade programme that allowed them to sell goods to the US without paying import taxes. The announcement came on Monday.

South Africa is the programme's biggest beneficiary. It exports cars and citrus fruit to the US in large quantities. Citrus growers have warned that the removal will cost many jobs and damage entire towns that depend on the industry.

Washington said Rwanda's support for a rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo was a reason for its exclusion. South Africa's trade minister said the country will look for other markets and that the economy will stay stable.