WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump administration has indicated support for a one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the landmark trade programme that gives sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the United States market.
A White House official confirmed the position as the current law is set to expire on Tuesday, ending months of uncertainty over Washington’s stance on the pact.
Since taking office in January, the administration had not made its view on AGOA public, fueling concerns among African exporters and investors.
First enacted in 2000, AGOA has been credited with supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs across more than 30 African nations by allowing thousands of products to enter the U.S. tariff-free.
However, its benefits have recently been curtailed by tariffs of 10–30 per cent imposed by the Trump administration in August, which limited some of the programme’s original advantages.
Congress is now weighing whether to attach the proposed one-year extension to a temporary government funding bill that Republicans are pushing to keep federal operations running past Tuesday.
Efforts to secure a longer-term renewal have stalled, leaving African governments lobbying for at least a short reprieve to protect jobs and safeguard trade flows.
Supporters argue that renewing AGOA is vital not only for preserving employment but also for strengthening U.S. supply chains and countering China’s growing economic influence on the continent.
The debate comes as countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have recorded strong export growth to the U.S. despite global economic uncertainty.
African leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto, have been pressing for a much longer extension—up to 16 years—to provide predictability for businesses that depend on the programme.
While the White House’s backing for a short extension offers some relief, the broader future of U.S.-Africa trade relations remains in flux.
