US government extends AGOA despite threats to exclude SA

The United States government has extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for another two years, despite efforts to exclude South Africa from the preferential trade program. President Donald Trump signed the two-year extension into law, ensuring a sense of continuity for exporters across Africa. The extension passed Congress without major policy changes, marking a period of stability for the program.

South Africa's inclusion in AGOA had previously come under threat, with some lawmakers urging the President to bar Pretoria from the program. In December, the US Trade Representative even suggested a "different treatment" for South Africa, labeling it a "unique problem". However, both the Senate and the House of Representatives ultimately passed the extension, which will run until the end of December 2028.

AGOA, established in 2000, provides duty-free access to the American market for African countries, aiming to promote economic growth and strengthen trade ties between the US and the continent. The Trump administration has not ruled out potential changes to the US-Africa trade relationship, but with this extension in place, the program and the countries covered by it will remain protected for the majority of Trump's current and final term in office.