US President Donald Trump has signed a law extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for one more year, keeping the duty-free trade programme in place through 31 December.
The extension applies retroactively from 30 September 2025, according to US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer.
AGOA, first introduced in 2000, gives eligible Sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US market on more than 1 800 products.
The programme had expired in September, raising fears that the end of preferential access could threaten hundreds of thousands of African jobs linked to exports to the US.
Greer said his office would work with Congress this year to update the programme. The goal, he said, is to expand access for US businesses, farmers and ranchers, while bringing the framework in line with Trump’s America First trade agenda.
The final decision follows a legislative compromise. The US House of Representatives initially approved a three-year extension last month. The Senate later reduced it to one year, and the House agreed to the change.
AGOA renewed amid strained relations
The renewal comes at a tense time for US-South Africa relations. South Africa, Africa’s largest economy, has faced growing diplomatic friction with Washington.
Trump skipped a G20 meeting hosted by South Africa last year while it held the rotating presidency. He later said South Africa would not be invited to G20 meetings hosted by the US this year.
South African Trade Minister Parks Tau welcomed the extension last month.
“The extension will provide certainty and predictability for African and American businesses that rely on the programme,” said Tau.
The USTR said it would work with other agencies to implement any tariff schedule changes resulting from the legislation.
To qualify, participating countries must show progress toward a market-based economy, uphold the rule of law, and protect political rights and due process.
They must also reduce barriers to US trade and investment, fight corruption, tackle poverty, and safeguard human rights.
