AGOA Extension Bill Seeks Duty-Free Access

A new bill, the AGOA Extension Act, has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to prolong the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for an additional three years. Sponsored by Representative Jason Smith of Missouri, the legislation would push the program’s expiration date from September 30, 2025, to December 31, 2028, and would also extend key apparel provisions—such as regional apparel and third‑country fabric rules—through 2028.

The bill seeks to preserve duty‑free access for thousands of African exports to the U.S. market and to provide retroactive relief to importers affected by AGOA’s lapse earlier this year. It would allow eligible African goods that entered the United States after September 30, 2025, to be liquidated or reliquidated as if AGOA benefits had remained in force, giving importers 180 days to file refund requests with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

First enacted in 2000, AGOA grants duty‑free access to more than 6,500 products from eligible sub‑Saharan African countries, making it a cornerstone of U.S.–Africa economic relations. The extension is especially critical for textile‑ and apparel‑dependent economies such as Kenya, Lesotho, Ethiopia, and Mauritius. African governments and U.S. industry groups have warned that uncertainty over AGOA’s future threatens jobs, investment, and supply‑chain stability on both sides of the Atlantic.

The bill will next be considered by the relevant House committee, where its prospects will hinge on negotiations between lawmakers favoring a long‑term renewal and those advocating broader reforms to U.S. trade‑preference programs. The U.S. National Security Strategy highlights the importance of trade with Africa, and AGOA is viewed as a key component of that strategy. Originating from President Bill Clinton’s 1994 “More trade, less aid” declaration, the program was designed to promote African economic development through trade rather than aid. Its recent expiration on September 30 disrupted trade and caused significant financial losses, according to a lobbyist representing several African countries. The introduction of the AGOA Extension Act is therefore seen as a crucial step toward restoring stability and fostering economic growth in the region.