The US government has asked African leaders to be on the frontline, leading talks for possible renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), set to expire in September 2025.
AGOA is a US initiative that provides duty-free access to the US market for eligible sub-Saharan African countries, including Kenya. The law was enacted in 2000, and it aims to promote economic growth and improve US relations with African countries by providing incentives for economic and political reforms.
Speaking on Thursday, US Senior Bureau Official leading the Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs, Troy Fitrell, said some African countries are on the right trajectory, pushing for negotiations for the renewal of AGOA.
However, Fitrell lamented that other African countries have taken a back seat in the negotiations, challenging the countries to refrain from and act proactively in leading the engagements.
Already, the lives of thousands of Kenyans employed by firms exporting goods under AGOA are at risk, with business leaders warning of major setbacks if the trade pact with the US is not renewed.
With the future of the trade agreement hanging in the balance, Fitrell has advised African policymakers to urgently engage the US Congress to secure favourable terms for its extension or risk losing key benefits that have supported African economies for over two decades.
"Several countries in Africa have benefited extraordinarily and had amazing economic growth thanks to the provisions of AGOA. We’d certainly like to continue that kind of engagement, but there probably will need to be a much greater attention toward some form of reciprocity or some sort of engagement,'' Fitrell said during a press briefing.
"These are the kinds of negotiations that need to happen right now. These are the kinds of discussions, relating it to the tariff part of the question, that we are engaging in right now," Fitrell continued.
According to Fitrell, the power to either extend or suspend AGOA lies with the US Congress and the trade negotiations with the US Trade Representatives, who are keen to continue partnering with Africa.
Already, some African countries such as Kenya, South Africa, and Ghana have taken proactive steps in advocating for an updated AGOA framework that aligns with both US tariffs and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Despite these efforts, some African leaders remain slow to act, raising concerns that failure to engage in timely negotiations could result in lost trade privileges, forcing businesses to pay higher tariffs or seek alternative export markets.
Fitrell has hinted that if AGOA is renewed, it will likely come with modernised terms, focusing on reciprocity and mutual trade benefits. This means African countries may need to offer concessions in return, further complicating negotiations.
''My expectation is if there’s going to be a renewal of AGOA, it will probably reflect the modern world rather than the one from 25 years ago when it was first founded,'' Fitrell revealed.
Fitrell revealed that the challenge now lies with African leaders who must unite in a strategic push to ensure AGOA’s renewal benefits their economies. Without aggressive engagement, Africa risks losing a vital trade agreement that has supported industries ranging from textiles and agriculture to technology and manufacturing.
