President Donald Trump has signed into law the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), reauthorizing the trade preference program until 31 December 2026, with retroactive effect.
To meet AGOA’s rigorous eligibility requirements, countries must establish—or make continuous progress toward—a market-based economy, uphold the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process.
Countries must also eliminate barriers to United States trade and investment, enact policies to reduce poverty, combat corruption, and protect human rights.
“AGOA demands that United States trade partners provide greater market access for businesses, farmers, and ranchers, building upon the benefits it has historically provided to both Africa and the United States,” said Greener Jamieson, the United States Trade Representative.
He added: “We must also ensure that the program enhances US-Africa trade, and we will work with Congress over the next year to modernize the program to align with President Trump’s first trade policy.”
AGOA provides eligible Sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the United States market for over 1,800 products and services, in addition to more than 5,000 products eligible for duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.
The Act has been a key driver of the US trade relationship with Sub-Saharan Africa and has significantly contributed to economic development across the continent since its enactment in 2000.
The one-year extension reflects the Trump administration’s position on the preferential trade program.
While many African exporters have expressed interest in long-term reauthorization rather than short-term extensions, the United States remains focused on securing critical resources and supply chains away from foreign adversaries and sees African allies as key partners in achieving these goals.
As of 2026, Uganda remains suspended from AGOA, following its termination in January 2024 due to human rights concerns and the passage of the Homosexuality Act.
Ugandan officials are currently engaging with US lawmakers to navigate the country’s potential reinstatement.