The US Congress initially approved a three-year extension of Agoa. However, the legislation was amended by the Senate to a one-year extension before reaching the president's desk. While the move was welcomed by African exporters, it has left the long-term future of US-Africa trade shrouded in uncertainty.
At the same time, US tariffs on African countries have also undermined the expected benefits of Agoa. Last year, Washington imposed tariffs on African countries, ranging from 10 percent on Kenya to 30 percent on goods from South Africa. US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced a new global tariff of 15 percent, a day after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that his sweeping tariffs, imposed under a law intended for national emergencies, were illegal.
