U.S. Congress Clears AGOA Extension Through 2028 – Ethiopia’s Return Remains Uncertain

**U.S. Congress Extends African Growth and Opportunity Act Through 2028; Ethiopia’s Eligibility Remains Uncertain**

Addis Ababa – The United States Congress approved a two‑year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that will keep the program in effect until 31 December 2028. The measure was passed by the House of Representatives on 1 September with a bipartisan vote of 370‑48, following Senate approval in August. The legislation is part of a short‑term Continuing Resolution that funds the federal government and now awaits the signature of President Donald Trump.

The extension does not alter AGOA’s substantive provisions. It simply provides temporary continuity for eligible sub‑Saharan African exporters after the program lapsed on 30 September 2025 and was restored retroactively in February 2026 for a limited period through the end of 2026.

AGOA, enacted in 2000, grants duty‑free access to the U.S. market for more than 1,800 products from eligible African countries, in addition to items covered under the Generalized System of Preferences. The program’s renewal is viewed by lawmakers and business groups as a necessary step to encourage cross‑border investment and maintain the United States as a preferred trade partner in the region.

Joshua Walker, Chief International Affairs Officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the extension. “The two‑year extension is a critical first step toward providing the long‑term certainty that American businesses operating in sub‑Saharan Africa need to make meaningful investment decisions,” Walker said. “We urge Congress to use this window to modernize both programs and advance their long‑term reauthorization.”

The extension also covers the Haiti Economic Lift Program, including the HOPE/HELP trade preference programs and related apparel provisions. Walker added that the programs are important instruments of U.S. strategic competition, helping to diversify supply chains away from non‑democratic actors and supporting constructive U.S. engagement in geopolitically significant regions.

**Ethiopia’s Status Remains Unclear**

The extension does not automatically restore Ethiopia’s eligibility. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) kept Ethiopia on its list of suspended countries in a December 2025 announcement, confirming that other eligible African nations would retain their benefits. Ethiopia’s return to AGOA would require a separate decision by the U.S. President.

Ethiopia was removed from AGOA in December 2021 after President Joe Biden cited “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights” that occurred during the war in the Tigray region, which began in November 2020. The suspension has had a significant impact on Ethiopia’s export‑oriented manufacturing sector, particularly textile and garment factories that had relied on preferential U.S. market access. Several foreign companies have closed operations or left Ethiopia, and the government has warned that the decision could affect the livelihoods of more than 200,000 low‑income families, most of whom are women employed in AGOA‑linked industries.

The USTR maintains that beneficiary status under AGOA is subject to periodic eligibility reviews. Although the Tigray conflict formally ended with the signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement in November 2022, Ethiopia’s human‑rights record continues to raise concerns. The U.S. Department of State’s 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices documented widespread abuses, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and mass detention, by both state and non‑state actors in various parts of the country.

Until a new eligibility determination is made, Ethiopia’s prospects of regaining access to AGOA remain uncertain. The current extension provides continuity for countries already benefiting from the program while leaving Ethiopia’s future participation to be decided in the coming months.

Article and image source: allafrica.com