After months of disruption and job losses, Washington reopens the door for African exports. But Trump signals the deal may come with tougher strings attached.
WASHINGTON — The United States has renewed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), restoring duty-free access to the American market for 32 African countries after the landmark trade agreement lapsed last year.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Tuesday that President Donald Trump signed legislation extending AGOA through December 31, 2026, with retroactive effect from September 30, 2025, the date the program expired.
The renewal offers temporary relief to African exporters who were hit by higher tariffs following the lapse, which disrupted supply chains and put thousands of jobs at risk across the continent.
“AGOA for the 21st century must demand more from our trading partners and yield more market access for U.S. businesses, farmers, and ranchers,” Greer said in a statement, signaling that Washington may seek tougher terms as it moves to modernize the program.
AGOA has been a cornerstone of U.S.–Africa trade relations for a quarter century, allowing eligible African nations to export goods such as automobiles, textiles, agricultural products and energy to the United States without paying duties. Since its inception, the program has underpinned billions of dollars in trade and supported manufacturing and export-led growth in several African economies.
The agreement’s expiration last September had immediate consequences. Exporters were forced to absorb steep tariffs, while smaller economies were particularly exposed. In Lesotho, the textile sector — the country’s largest employer — was hit hard, prompting protests in the capital, Maseru, after factories cut jobs and production. Lesotho exported about $150 million in goods under AGOA in 2024.
According to the United States International Trade Commission, African countries exported $8.23 billion worth of goods under AGOA in 2024. Roughly half of that total came from South Africa, primarily automobiles, precious metals and agricultural products, while about one-fifth originated from Nigeria, largely oil and energy exports.
Trump, who has repeatedly described tariffs as his preferred tool of economic diplomacy, has framed trade policy as both leverage and incentive in reshaping U.S. global relationships. Greer said the administration would work with Congress over the coming year to update AGOA to better align with current U.S. trade priorities.
For now, the renewal provides short-term certainty for African exporters and governments, even as questions loom over how long-term access to the U.S. market may evolve under a more transactional American trade strategy.
