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).
The AU has urged the US Senate to swiftly pass the measure to secure continued trade relations between the US and the continent.
African Union Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssef described AGOA as “a cornerstone of the US-Africa economic relationship”, noting that the program has supported industrialization, job creation, and the development of regional value chains across Africa for more than two decades.
He called on Washington to approve the expansion in the spirit of partnership and upholding shared strategic interests.
Also Read: The World in Brief: Starlink provides free internet in Iran, Thailand crane crash kills dozens, other global stories
The extension, passed through HR 6500, would keep AGOA in effect until December 31, 2028, providing greater certainty for U.S. companies sourcing goods from sub-Saharan Africa and giving Congress time to consider comprehensive reforms to the program.
Despite the expansion, many African countries remain outside AGOA eligibility. These include Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon and Guinea, as well as Mali, Niger, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.
According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Sudan “was not reviewed for eligibility because it has not requested designation as an AGOA beneficiary country.”
USTR also said that Equatorial Guinea and Seychelles are not eligible for AGOA consideration because they have graduated from the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). It said Somalia first expressed interest in AGOA eligibility in 2023.
But 32 African countries currently retain preferential access under AGOA. According to USTR's latest update released in December 2025, eligible countries include Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Malawi, Angola, Tanzania, Ghana, Botswana and Togo.
Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous country, was removed from the program in January 2022 due to human rights concerns related to the Tigray conflict. Despite continued diplomatic efforts to regain access, its exclusion remains largely in place.
AGOA eligibility is reviewed annually and is based on broader U.S. national security and foreign policy considerations as well as criteria including respect for the rule of law, political pluralism, anti-corruption measures, intellectual property protection, human rights, and market access standards.
Ethiopia's suspension has had significant economic consequences, particularly for its textile and apparel industries, which were among the largest beneficiaries of AGOA.
The loss of duty-free access led to factory closures and job losses, disproportionately affecting women employed in export-oriented manufacturing.
As of early 2026, the country remains ineligible for AGOA benefits despite repeated requests for reinstatement.
Experts say rejoining the program could provide a meaningful boost to exporters in textiles, horticulture and other labour-intensive sectors, as the country looks to revive growth and boost foreign exchange earnings.
