U.S. House Committee Approves AGOA Trade Pact Renewal

Passage by the powerful House Ways and Means Committee of a bill to extend for three years the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has raised hopes among supporters that the legislation may be enacted early in 2026. The Committee voted 37 to 3 on December 10 to send the bill to the House floor for a vote.

"This outcome reflects years of principled, bipartisan advocacy grounded in the belief that meaningful U.S.-Africa partnerships & trade drive enduring & mutual prosperity," AGOA Coaltion co-chair Rose Whitaker posted on LinkedIn.

Spearheaded by Committee Chairman Jason Smith of Missouri, the proposed AGOA Extension Act would make December 31, 2028 the new expiration date and retroactively liquidate any tariffs incurred after September 30, according to the draft language posted on the Ways and Means Committee web site.

The Alliance - a coalition of U.S. and African business, policy, and trade leaders - launched the "Continue AGOA! initiative to mobilize ssupport from African Ambassadors, business leaders, and policymakers from the U.S. and Africa. 

In a letter to Chairman Smith, the Corporate Council on Africa - the largest U.S. trade group focused soley on Africa- said the proposed legistlation "would create a solid base on which to work with America's African partners" and would "strengthenour trade and investment partnership with Africa for the coming decade to our mutual benefit."