President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on imports have placed the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in jeopardy. Analysts warn that the renewal of the landmark U.S.-Africa trade pact, set to expire in 2025, is now highly unlikely.
AGOA, first enacted in 2000 under President Bill Clinton, offers duty-free access to the U.S. market for thousands of African exports, including textiles, automobiles, minerals, and agricultural products. Designed to bolster trade and economic growth across Sub-Saharan Africa, it has been renewed twice but now faces an uncertain fate.
Currently, 35 African nations benefit from AGOA, with South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, and Ethiopia among the largest exporters. The pact has fueled industrialization and job creation, particularly in the textiles and automotive sectors. The United States, in turn, secures access to crucial minerals and strengthens economic ties in a region increasingly courted by China.
Despite its successes, critics argue AGOA remains underutilized. Fewer than half of eligible nations have implemented national utilization strategies, and most benefits accrue to a handful of countries. U.S. imports under AGOA peaked at $82 billion in 2008 but dwindled to $29.1 billion in 2024, highlighting the need for modernization to encompass digital and technological industries.
African leaders are pushing for a 10-year extension, but the Trump administration’s protectionist stance casts doubt on the pact’s survival. The latest tariffs amplify concerns that AGOA may be scrapped prematurely unless African nations leverage strong bargaining positions. Officials from South Africa and Madagascar await clarification on whether Trump’s reciprocal tariffs will apply to AGOA exports.
The fate of AGOA now rests with the U.S. Congress, whose decision will determine the trajectory of U.S.-Africa trade relations in the years ahead.