Kenya is among several African nations awaiting relief after the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump signaled its intention to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by one year. The pact, which provides duty-free access for African exports to the U.S. market, is set to expire this week, raising anxiety among governments, businesses, and workers who rely on it.
A senior White House official told Reuters that Trump would back the extension, despite his administration’s previous silence on AGOA since he assumed office in January. First enacted in 2000 under President Bill Clinton, AGOA has become a cornerstone of U.S.–Africa trade relations. In Kenya alone, over 66,000 jobs directly depend on the arrangement, particularly in the textiles and apparel sector.
While the one-year extension is expected to inject new life into the program, uncertainty lingers. Trump’s “America First” trade agenda has seen the imposition of tariffs ranging from 10 to 30 percent on several African exports, including Kenyan products. Bloomberg reports that chances of renewing AGOA beyond a year remain slim, given the strained climate of U.S. trade policy.
African governments have been lobbying vigorously for a longer-term extension. Investors, too, are wary of the instability surrounding the Clinton-era deal, fearing disruptions to trade and supply chains.
President William Ruto, speaking during his recent U.S. trip on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, reassured Kenyans that a bilateral trade agreement with Washington will be signed by the end of the year. He described the deal as a vital safety net amid AGOA’s uncertainty, making Kenya the first African country to strike such an agreement with the Trump administration.
“I will be asking him for the U.S. to consider seriously renewing and extending AGOA for at least a minimum of five years, because it is a platform that connects Africa and the U.S. in a very fundamental way,” Ruto stated, stressing the pact’s role in addressing trade deficits and supporting industrial growth.
Back home, Kenya’s National Assembly has also pressed for urgency. On September 24, MPs unanimously backed a motion tabled by Laikipia MP Jane Kagiri, urging an expedited extension of AGOA. Lawmakers cited its immense contribution to job creation, export growth, and overall social development.
For now, the focus is on Washington. A one-year extension may buy time, but for Kenya and other African economies, the real prize lies in securing a longer-term framework that guarantees stability in U.S.–Africa trade relations.
