Congress debates two-year extension of US-Africa trade preference program

Lawmakers in the Senate have incorporated a two-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act into a broader government funding bill, pushing the program’s deadline to 2028 while leaving its terms untouched. Since its inception in 2000, the trade preference arrangement has been a major channel for duty-free African goods entering the United States. The extension now awaits approval from the House of Representatives, where leaders may alter the proposal to reflect the current administration’s tariff agenda and provide certainty for businesses.

According to a former staff member on Capitol Hill, the House is likely to seek a version that fits the president’s trade strategy, making a straightforward two-year renewal uncertain. The outcome will determine whether the AGOA framework continues unchanged or is reshaped before it lapses at year-end.