• U.S. House passes bill to extend AGOA through December 2028

• Extension restores duty-free access, allows refunds on 2025–2026 imports

• Bill highlights U.S.-China rivalry, uncertainty over South Africa’s eligibility

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill late on Monday to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a trade preference programme that has granted duty-free access to eligible sub-Saharan African countries since 2000, through Dec. 31, 2028.

The House approved the “AGOA Extension Act” by 340-54, with 394 members voting. The bill now heads to the Senate.

If the Senate passes the measure, it would restore duty-free access for a wide range of goods from eligible sub-Saharan African countries. It would also allow refunds of duties paid on imports from eligible countries that entered the United States after Sept. 30, 2025, and before the law takes effect.

AGOA expired on Oct. 1, 2025, as the Trump administration rolled out new tariffs. The bill remains unclear on whether the renewed programme would shield eligible exports from tariffs imposed directly by the White House.

Uncertainty also surrounds South Africa’s eligibility. The country has strained relations with the Trump administration, which has accused Pretoria of targeting white citizens. Washington has also criticised Africa’s most industrialised economy for maintaining close ties with U.S. rivals such as China, Russia and Iran.

Lawmakers have recently pointed to South Africa’s “proximity” to those countries, including after China, Russia and Iran took part in naval exercises off the South African coast.

Countering China

Trump could use AGOA as leverage to push eligible countries to align with U.S. interests, or to penalise governments seen as close to rival powers. The bill explicitly frames the programme as a strategic tool.

“Africa is home to approximately 30% of the world’s critical mineral resources, and China has invested $8 to $10 billion in Africa to try to monopolize these essential supply chains. AGOA is one of our most valuable tools for securing our long-term economic and national security. An extended lapse in AGOA would be costly to U.S. leadership within the region, creating a void that malign actors like China and Russia will seek to fill,” a fact sheet said.

Any renewal would come as the United States continues to lose ground to China in Africa. China has moved to scrap tariffs on imports from the 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations, after Trump raised U.S. duties last year.

Launched in May 2000, AGOA grants duty-free access to the U.S. market for more than 1,700 products from eligible sub-Saharan African countries. Washington reviews eligibility annually, based on countries’ commitment to a market economy, respect for the rule of law and efforts to reduce poverty. The programme also takes into account democratic progress or backsliding.

Walid Kéfi