This country of issue requirement is not new for AA. It stemmed from the exKRT fares. In fact I was read a memo about it 2 years ago when I called to change my AB fared KRT RTW.

For those that didn't know, after the KRT rates were increased AB kept the cheap fare filed. You could get it to price if you used AB for the first intercontinental flight. AA issued my ticket without batting an eye. However, when I needed to change it (AB fare was still there) they pulled the "must be priced in USD" memo.

I've mentioned this in several threads. Looks like it's slowly spreading to all the cheap locales.