Okonjo-Iweala, US Lawmakers Excited as Trump Signs Two-year Extension of AGOA
Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and some members of the US Congress have expressed excitement as President Donald Trump, Friday
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and several US lawmakers celebrated as President Donald Trump signed an extension for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) on Friday. AGOA, which benefits 32 African nations, allows duty-free treatment on imports from qualifying African countries.
Okonjo-Iweala expressed her satisfaction on X (formerly Twitter), praising the extension for stimulating mutually beneficial trade between Africa and the US. The US House of Representatives had already passed the bill in January 2025, renewing the trade programme for some African countries through 2028. The two-year extension, which passed Congress without substantial changes, signifies continuity for exporters across Africa.
Initially, there were concerns about South Africa's inclusion in AGOA, but the extension passed Congress in December 2025, preserving South Africa's participation until December 2028. Lawmakers, including Republican Representative Jason Smith and Democrat Congresswoman Terri Sewell, hailed the extension, emphasizing its role in promoting economic stability, opportunity, and long-term investment between the US and Africa.
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