A short-term extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act — a 25-year-old program between the United States and sub-Saharan African nations — was signed into law on Tuesday, preserving a key pillar of the U.S.-Africa trade relationship.
AGOA provides qualifying countries in sub-Saharan Africa with tariff-free access to the U.S. market for thousands of products, with the goal of supporting economic development, strengthening the rule of law, and deepening political ties.
While the U.S. House of Representatives approved a three-year extension of the program, the final bill passed by Congress and signed into law offers only a one-year reprieve. The Trump administration had earlier indicated it would support the shorter extension. AGOA will now run through Dec 31, 2026, and benefits will apply retroactively to cover the period since the program lapsed on Sept. 30.