Kenyan President William Ruto has reassured the country’s textile and apparel industry that his government is actively engaging with the United States to secure an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and develop a permanent trade framework to ensure continued access to the U.S. market.
Speaking at a consultative meeting with sector stakeholders, President Ruto addressed growing concerns following the expiry of AGOA on September 30, which has raised fears of potential job losses and declining export orders.
“I briefed stakeholders on my recent discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, where we explored not only the extension of AGOA but also the establishment of a long-term framework to guarantee stable and predictable market access for our products,” Ruto posted on X.
The President emphasized that Kenya’s apparel industry, which employs tens of thousands and contributes significantly to export earnings, remains a strategic pillar of the national economy. “This will go a long way in strengthening our apparel industry, which remains vital to our economy and the livelihoods of thousands of families,” he said.
Ruto assured stakeholders that industry operations will continue uninterrupted as negotiations proceed “with the urgency they deserve.”
AGOA, enacted in 2000, has been a cornerstone of trade between the U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa, granting duty-free access to U.S. markets for thousands of African-made products. Kenya, one of the leading AGOA beneficiaries, exports over $500 million worth of apparel annually to the United States, supporting around 60,000 direct jobs and many more indirectly.
Industry leaders, however, have cautioned that without swift renewal or a new trade framework, Kenya’s apparel exports could face tariff barriers, undermining the sector’s competitiveness and deterring future investment.
As discussions advance, the government’s focus remains on preserving market stability, safeguarding employment, and positioning Kenya as a long-term textile hub under a new, mutually beneficial trade agreement with the United States.
