The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to renew Washington’s preferential trade programme for some African countries through 2028.
According to CNBC Africa, the house approved the extension
for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), first enacted in 2000 to
provide duty-free access to the US market for eligible sub-Saharan countries
and products, by a vote of 340 to 54.
On December 10, 2025, the United States congress advanced a
bill that seeks to revive the AGOA, which expired on September 30 this year.
The AGOA Extension Act was introduced by Jason Smith, a
member of the US house of representatives, who proposed a three-year renewal
until December 31, 2028.
The extension permits retroactive duty-free treatment on
imports from eligible African countries from the expiration date.
This means importers can claim refunds for duties they have
paid in the interval for AGOA-qualifying goods.
The US house committee on ways and means passed the
Extension Act by a vote of 37-3, showing strong bipartisan support before full
house consideration.
A committee statement described the trade initiative as “the
cornerstone of economic relations between the U.S. and Sub-Saharan African
nations”.
Nigeria has been a beneficiary of AGOA since the programme’s
inception in 2000.
According to a 2024 Brookings report, African beneficiary
countries exported approximately $103 billion worth of non-crude products to
the US between 2001 and 2022.
Of this figure, Nigeria was ranked second highest after
South Africa, with a total of non-crude exports valued at $11.2 billion. South
Africa contributed $55.9 billion.
Kenya was ranked third with an export value of $7.3 billion;
Lesotho with $6.8 billion; and Madagascar came fifth with $3.6 billion.
Nigeria was also ranked second place for top non-crude US
imports favouring natural resources in the category of light oils and
preparations from petroleum oils valued at around $4 million between 2001 and
2022.
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