The House voted to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and HOPE/HELP trade preference programs by two years on Tuesday. The move follows the Senate vote last month. Next, the extension moves to the president’s desk as part of a government funding bill.
AGOA was allowed to lapse in September 2025 before getting a retroactive reauthorization in February that runs through the end of 2026. At the time US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated, “We must also make sure that the program enhances U.S.-Africa trade and will work with Congress over the next year to modernize the program to align with President Trump’s America First Trade Policy.”
More than 30 sub-Saharan African countries are eligible for duty free access to the U.S. market today under AGOA. Established in 2000 to promote economic development, AGOA’s initial authorization was set to expire in 2007, but in 2004 Congress renewed it to 2015. In 2015, the renewal came three months ahead of the expiration date.
In 2024, U.S. imports across all categories under AGOA totaled $9.7 billion, down from $10.2 billion in 2023, according to the United States Trade Representative. Of that, $1.19 billion were textile and apparel imports, nearly 5 percent down year over year.
In a statement championing the passage of the extension, Beth Hughes, American Apparel & Footwear Association’s Vice President of Trade and Customs Policy said in a statement, “Our industry remains firmly committed to these programs and encourages Congress to use this extension as an opportunity to modernize AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP and build toward a 15-year renewal. Long-term renewal continues to be the goal in order to encourage long-term investment, deepen trade partnerships, and strengthen industries at home and throughout the region.”
Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett applauded the “certainty” that comes with a two-year extension. “This vital program sustains manufacturing jobs in Haiti and secures a reliable, nearby supply chain for American apparel companies,” she said in a press release. “The apparel sector remains the foundation of Haiti’s economy and its most reliable source of formal employment, making uninterrupted duty-free access to the U.S. market essential to any path toward stability.”
Joshua Walker, Chief International Affairs Officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, echoed the call for “durable renewal,” and added the programs help to diversify “critical supply chains away from non-democratic actors” in the continent.
