ISDS Case Map
AGOA
African Growth and Opportuntities Act
China will implement zero-tariff treatment for imports from 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations from May 1, 2026, state media reported on Saturday, in a move that broadens Beijing’s preferential trade regime across the continent.
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 EFF has called on the South African government to reject the recent extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), warning that the programme primarily serves US geopolitical and economic interests rather than advancing African development.
Seventeen African countries, including Ethiopia, Uganda and Zimbabwe, remain in trade limbo even as the African Union (AU) welcomed the US House of Representatives’ approval of a three-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Ghana and United States (US) officials held high level discussions in Washington recently on establishing a comprehensive trade cooperation framework as both nations navigate post African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) economic relations.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is set to be extended by a further three years.The committee, which described the trade initiative as “the cornerstone of economic relations between the US and Sub-Saharan African nations", did not mention any exclusion of South Africa in its statement.
South Africa is committed to ensuring that it is included in any extension of U.S. trade initiative the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a trade ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Kenya is pursuing a bilateral deal with the US to replace the stalled Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) even as President Donald Trump promised a one-year extension of the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (Agoa), which allows them preferential access to the key market.
This bill, titled the AGOA Extension and Bilateral Engagement Act, was tabled at the end of September and aims to extend the AGOA for two additional years. However, nestled within the legislation is a stipulation that explicitly excludes South Africa from participating in this crucial economic programme.
Hundreds of textile workers took to the streets of Maseru’s city centre on Friday, demanding urgent relief from crippling US tariffs that have triggered widespread layoffs in Lesotho’s vital garment industry.
