African manufacturers are making a final push in Washington for a one–two year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the U.S. trade programme granting duty-free access to thousands of products. AGOA, a key driver of U.S.–Africa trade since 2000, is set to expire in September 2025.
The law waives tariffs on over 1,800 product lines, benefiting apparel, auto parts, agri-processing, and mineral exports industries that sustain hundreds of thousands of jobs across countries like Kenya, Lesotho, and Madagascar.
If Congress fails to act, U.S. import duties would return overnight, with some synthetic textiles facing tariff spikes from about 10% to over 40%, threatening factories and export zones.
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Kenyan-led delegations are lobbying Capitol Hill for a short-term extension to keep production alive while a longer reauthorisation is negotiated. Congressional staffers show sympathy, but a tight legislative calendar and heightened tariff politics make passage uncertain.
AGOA has long been seen as both a development tool and a strategic counter to China's growing influence in Africa. African leaders fear that even a widely supported trade programme could be swept into broader U.S. trade disputes this year.
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