The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through 2028, maintaining duty-free access to the American market for eligible Sub-Saharan African countries.
The extension, first enacted in 2000, was passed by a decisive 340–54 vote, signaling strong bipartisan backing for the trade program. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’Oei welcomed the move, calling it “a welcome step for U.S.-Africa trade” and noting that President William Ruto has actively advocated for the extension.
“We trust the Senate will equally pass the bill,” Sing’Oei said on his X account, emphasizing Kenya’s commitment to strengthening trade relations under AGOA.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a non-reciprocal trade preference program that provided duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 1,800 products from eligible sub-Saharan African countries.
AGOA has historically allowed African exporters to access U.S. markets duty-free, benefiting sectors such as textiles, agriculture, and manufacturing. Analysts say the extension provides long-term certainty for businesses, encouraging investment and economic growth across the continent.
The U.S. Congress first established AGOA in 2000 to promote economic development and integration of Sub-Saharan Africa into the global trading system.
AGOA was initially set to expire in 2008 but was extended several times. The most significant extension came in June 2015, which reauthorized the program for a further 10 years. The program officially expired on September 30, 2025.
Extending the program through 2028 ensures that eligible African countries can continue to leverage preferential access to U.S. markets while promoting industrialization and job creation at home.
Kenya, a key AGOA beneficiary, has seen significant gains in apparel and horticulture exports to the United States, and officials expect the bill’s passage in the Senate to secure continued market stability.
With the Senate set to deliberate on the measure, stakeholders in Africa are closely monitoring developments, noting that the program’s continuity is vital for sustaining trade momentum and investment flows between the U.S. and the continent.
