Africa: The U.S. Bought Time on AGOA. Now it Needs a Strategy.

In February 2026, the U.S. Congress passed a one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), following a year of delays that caused a temporary lapse of the program. Meanwhile, China extended duty-free access to 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations. AGOA has tripled U.S. exports to eligible countries from $5.8 billion to $16.5 billion in 2024, but its limits remain: narrow product coverage, short renewal horizons, and lack of a broader commercial strategy. Strong bipartisan support exists for a longer reauthorization, but legislators await President Trump's vision for the program's future.