US Congress extends AGOA trade program through 2028

The United States Congress has approved the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through December 2028. Following Senate approval, the House of Representatives passed the measure, which now awaits the final signature of the U.S. President to become law.

AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African nations with duty-free access to the American market for thousands of products, including apparel, textiles, agricultural goods, and minerals. The renewal provides economic stability for exporters and investors, particularly in sectors such as textiles and specialty crops like vanilla and cocoa.

For countries like Madagascar, the extension is viewed as a critical development for maintaining industrial employment and attracting foreign direct investment. The program is intended to encourage economic diversification by incentivizing the production of value-added manufactured goods across the continent.