US Extends AGOA Trade Deal to 2028, Securing Duty-Free Access for Sub-Saharan Africa

• The US House of Representatives passed the AGOA extension with a 370–48 vote, attaching it to a broader government funding bill
• South Africa's continued participation in the preferential trade framework had faced serious uncertainty amid pressure from Washington lawmakers
• President Donald Trump signed the extension into law, though questions about the long-term future of AGOA remain unresolved

WASHINGTON — The United States has extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) until 31 December 2028, preserving duty-free market access for eligible sub-Saharan African nations at a time of heightened geopolitical tension between Washington and several African governments.

According to SABC News, the House of Representatives approved the measure in a 370–48 vote, with the AGOA extension folded into a wider government funding package that had already cleared the Senate. President Donald Trump subsequently signed the bill into law.

South Africa's participation under scrutiny

The extension comes after months of uncertainty, particularly regarding South Africa's place in the framework. Following the return of the Trump administration, a number of congressional members called for Pretoria's removal from the programme, pointing to foreign policy disagreements between the two countries.

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer had previously indicated openness to applying "different treatment" to South Africa, referring to Pretoria as a "unique problem" in the context of US trade priorities. However, Washington's attention shifted largely to trade disputes with China and Canada, reducing the administration's capacity to pursue immediate structural changes to AGOA.

What AGOA covers

First enacted in 2000, AGOA grants qualifying sub-Saharan African countries access to thousands of US product lines on a duty-free basis, with the aim of stimulating economic development and expanding regional trade.

Republican Congressman Jason Smith, who represents Missouri's 8th Congressional District, defended the renewed legislation in a statement.

"For over two decades, the African Growth and Opportunity Act has been the foundation of America's trade relationship with the nations of sub-Saharan Africa," Smith said. "AGOA promotes greater economic stability and opportunity across Africa while advancing America's strategic and national security interests, including access to critical minerals and more secure supply chains."

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The two-year extension preserves the existing terms of the arrangement without modification. While the Trump administration has signalled it may revisit the structure of its economic relationships on the continent in future, the newly signed law guarantees regional access through the end of 2028.

View a tweet about the renewal on X:

Parks Tau welcomes AGOA extension

In a related article, Briefly News reported on the recent extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by U.S. President Donald Trump and the reaction from South African Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, Parks Tau. The extension, although only for one year, offers a glimmer of hope for continued trade relations amidst growing concerns over the U.S.-South Africa relationship.

Source: Briefly News