US House votes to extend Key Africa trade pact amid geopolitical competition
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through December 2028, advancing a key instrument of American economic engagement with Africa amid rising global competition.
Approved with strong bipartisan support by a vote of 340-394 on January 12, the “AGOA Extension Act” seeks to renew the program, which had expired on October 1, 2025.
The bill includes retroactive coverage, refunding tariffs paid since its lapse, and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The push for renewal comes against a transformed trade landscape. While AGOA grants eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the U.S. market, it does not shield them from broader tariffs imposed by the White House.
The bill explicitly frames AGOA as a tool to safeguard U.S. “economic and national security” in the face of rivals, notably China.
Geopolitical tensions overshadow the program. South Africa, largest beneficiary of AGOA, faces potential removal due to its deepening ties with China, Russia, and Iran, as well as participation in joint naval exercises.
This highlights how the trade preference scheme can be leveraged to encourage alignment with U.S. interests.
The extension also responds to the commercial offensive of China in Africa, which includes eliminating tariffs on imports from most African nations. U.S.
lawmakers warn that abandoning AGOA would create a vacuum that China and Russia would quickly fill, especially given Africa’s holdings of roughly 30% of the world’s critical minerals.
Launched in 2000, AGOA has tied trade benefits to political and economic reforms, such as commitments to the rule of law and market economies.
Its likely renewal reflects not a revival of cooperation, but a pragmatic adaptation to an era of strategic competition where trade serves as an instrument of influence.
