Trump signs two-year AGOA extension, Nigeria among 32 African  beneficiaries

By Onu Okorie

 President Donald Trump has signed into law a two-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), restoring duty-free access to the American market for Nigeria and 31 other eligible African countries, after the trade programme had lapsed on September 30, 2025.

AGOA, established in 2000, provides qualifying African nations with duty-free access to the US market as part of efforts to promote economic growth across the continent and boost trade between the United States and Africa. The newly signed extension permits retroactive duty-free treatment on imports from eligible countries dating back to the programme’s expiration, allowing importers to claim refunds on duties paid during the lapse for AGOA-qualifying goods.

The development has drawn praise from senior officials, including the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who welcomed the signing in a post on X. She expressed hope that the extension would stimulate mutually beneficial trade between Africa and the United States, while crediting the US Congress, the American administration, and the African Union for their roles in securing the renewal.

The path to the extension was not straightforward. The US House of Representatives had passed a bill in January proposing to renew the programme through 2028, with lawmakers approving it by a decisive vote of 340 to 54. However, the process was clouded for months by uncertainty over South Africa’s status within the programme. A group of congressmen had written to President Trump urging him to exclude Pretoria, while US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated last December that he was open to “different treatment” for South Africa, describing the country as a “unique problem.”

Despite these tensions, the Senate and House of Representatives passed the extension without excluding South Africa or making other substantive policy changes, providing continuity for exporters across the continent. The bill, which runs through the end of December 2028, was ultimately signed into law by President Trump on Friday.

Lawmakers who championed the bill have hailed its passage. Republican Congressman Jason Smith of Missouri, who introduced the AGOA Extension Act proposing a three-year renewal, said the programme has for over two decades formed the foundation of America’s trade relationship with sub-Saharan Africa, adding that it advances US strategic interests, including access to critical minerals and more secure supply chains.

Democratic Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Alabama, described as the lead champion of AGOA in Congress, said the reauthorisation was included in the continuing resolution that passed the House, calling it a victory that overcame divisiveness in Washington. She described AGOA as one of the most successful trade programmes in US history, crediting it with opening doors for African nations while creating opportunities for American workers, farmers and manufacturers. According to Sewell, the programme represents the best of American economic leadership at a time when Africa’s economic importance continues to grow.