Focus on Africa US renews key trade pact with Africa
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Feb 9, 2026 Ntungamili Hagan, a 17-year-old Botswanan who reached the junior Australian Open last 16, shares his rise from his father’s tennis school. Pauline Bax, economist and Africa deputy programme director at the International Crisis Group, explains AGOA’s duty-free access, who benefits, and why a one-year US renewal creates uncertainty for African exporters and investors.
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AGOA's Role And Short Renewal
- AGOA gives 32 African countries duty-free access to the US for select goods and spurred manufacturing and jobs in places like Lesotho.
- The US renewed AGOA for just one year, creating short-term certainty but undermining long-term investment confidence.
Uneven Benefits Across Countries
- AGOA's benefits vary widely by country depending on export mix and competitiveness.
- Some nations see major job gains and female employment in textiles while others barely feel any impact.
Human Rights Condition For Eligibility
- AGOA eligibility is tied to governance and human rights standards, and countries can be removed.
- Uganda was removed two years ago, showing political conditions matter as much as economics.