The United States has reauthorised the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), restoring duty-free access to the U.S. market for eligible Sub-Saharan African countries, after a recent lapse.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed into law the renewal of AGOA, a trade program that allows African exporters to ship thousands of products to the U.S. market without tariffs. The program had expired on September 30, 2025, raising uncertainty among beneficiary countries and exporters.
According to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the renewed AGOA will run through December 31, 2026, with retroactive effect from the date of expiration.
The renewal is expected to ease concerns among African exporters including Ethiopia, particularly in textiles, apparel, leather, and agricultural products, sectors that have relied heavily on duty-free access to the U.S. market.
The Trump administration said the program will be modernized to align with its America First trade policy, with stricter eligibility requirements tied to market reforms, governance, and trade openness.
AGOA, enacted in 2000, provides duty-free access for more than 1,800 products, in addition to thousands covered under the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences.
