People Daily, 5 February 2026
By Kenneth Mwenda
US restores AGOA with one-year renewal to December 2026
President Donald Trump has signed a law extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by one year, keeping the trade programme alive until December 31, 2026.
The extension applies retroactively from September 30, 2025, when AGOA expired. The move restores duty-free access to the United States market for eligible sub-Saharan African countries after months of uncertainty for exporters and governments.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the decision on February 3, 2026. In a statement from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Greer said the programme must now deliver more for American interests.
“AGOA for the 21st century must demand more from our trading partners and yield more market access for U.S. businesses, farmers, and ranchers to build upon the benefits it has historically provided to Africa and the United States,” Greer said.
