The extension follows a brief lapse in the programme in September 2025, which had caused uncertainty for African exporters dependent on US market access.
Exporters in many African nations have regained duty-free access to the US after the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was extended till 2026 end by a US presidential proclamation.
The extension follows a lapse in the programme in late 2025, which had caused uncertainty for African exporters dependent on US market access.
Gabon was reinstated as an AGOA beneficiary, reversing its 2023 removal.
It was restored in February 2026 when Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, extending AGOA retroactively to the end of 2026.
The latest presidential proclamation on May 19 formally implemented the extension and updated US tariff schedules. Gabon has been reinstated as a beneficiary of AGOA after making sufficient progress on governance and eligibility, reversing its 2023 removal.
The announcement is a big relief for African economies that depend heavily on AGOA-linked trade, particularly in labour-intensive sectors like garments, where duty-free access significantly improves competitiveness in the US market.
But the limited extension continues uncertainty over the -term future of the programme.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
