The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)—first enacted in 2000—expired on 30 September 2025, prompting renewed debate in Washington over the future of US trade preferences for Africa. AGOA grants qualifying sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US market for more than 1,800 products, in addition to over 5,000 items covered by the Generalized System of Preferences.
AGOA eligibility is tied to strict benchmarks on governance, anti-corruption measures, human rights, and market access. In 2024, 32 countries met the requirements to receive benefits. The program was last revised and extended by Congress in 2015, setting its previous 2025 expiry.
Strategic and Geopolitical Context
The act is widely viewed as a pillar of US economic engagement in Africa and a counterweight to expanding influence from China and Russia on the continent. China has invested an estimated $8–$10 billion in Africa, targeting access to critical minerals that represent around 30% of global supply.
The House vote would provide a three-year retroactive extension of AGOA if enacted into law. The move follows recent US diplomatic efforts in Africa, including initiatives aimed at improving stability between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the announcement of a strategic partnership with the DRC focused on mineral development.
Read more: Kenya Welcomes AGOA Extension Proposal
Lawmakers also advanced a parallel extension of the HOPE/HELP program, which offers trade preferences for textile and apparel products from Haiti. Supporters argue that maintaining access is critical to stabilizing Haiti’s apparel sector amid ongoing political and security challenges, noting the country’s proximity—less than 700 miles—to the United States. The renewal aligns with US trade priorities emphasizing nearshoring and onshoring.
Both AGOA and HOPE/HELP had faced expiration, raising concerns among US industries dependent on predictable international sourcing. The House action is intended to restore certainty across supply chains while the bill advances to the Senate.
Reacting to the vote, Beth Hughes, Vice President for Trade and Customs Policy at the American Apparel & Footwear Association, said the decision reflects bipartisan recognition that supporting African and Haitian apparel and footwear industries also strengthens the US sector—opening markets for US cotton and textile exports, advancing diversified sourcing goals, and supporting 3.6 million American workers.
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