Uncertainty Over US-Africa AGOA Trade Deal Threatens Over Million Jobs

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a key US trade agreement granting duty-free market access to thousands of African products since 2000, is set to expire, creating significant uncertainty for African exporters and risking over a million indirect jobs, especially in sectors like Kenya's textiles. African unions and governments have been lobbying for an extension, with the Trump administration reportedly supporting a one-year extension, though the future remains unclear amid new US tariff policies. While AGOA has been crucial in supporting employment and industrialization in countries such as Kenya and Lesotho, some economists argue that its end could prompt African countries to explore alternative trade partnerships and boost intra-African trade. The expiration threatens to exacerbate economic hardship and unemployment, exemplified by workers like Joan Wambui in Nairobi whose livelihoods depend on AGOA-enabled exports. Despite bipartisan Congressional support for AGOA, the president's role as key decision-maker adds complexity to the negotiations. Overall, the end of AGOA could significantly disrupt African economies but also potentially open pathways to diversified trade relations.