US House Panel Advances Three-Year AGOA Renewal While Doubts Remain Over SA Participation

A United States (US) congressional committee, the Committee on Ways and Means voted 37–3 to advance the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act, describing the initiative as a cornerstone of US relations with Africa.

Legislators were concerned that a long-term lapse of the agreement would be to the advantage of China and Russia. The proposed legislation would extend AGOA’s duty-free trade benefits for three years.

The vote follows an intensified lobbying campaign by US and African business leaders, who launched the “Continue AGOA!” initiative to build congressional support. Advocates say AGOA has supported millions of jobs across Africa and the US, boosted exports, and deepened bilateral trade ties. Engagements in Washington have included meetings with African ambassadors, lawmakers, and senior officials to reinforce the programme’s strategic and economic value.

South Africa’s place in the new agreement is however in doubt.

In a congressional hearing yesterday, South Africa was described as an “enemy” of the US and a “unique problem” for American diplomacy, signalling the hardening mood on Capitol Hill that may shape the final contours of the renewal package. US lawmakers are also expected to press for a special dispensation regarding South Africa that could see high tariff levels maintained which would in practice exclude the country from certain AGOA benefits. South Africa’s increasingly fraught relationship with Washington has already left it facing tariff levels roughly three times higher than the African average.

The committee’s move also comes a day after US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration was open to excising South Africa from the deal.

Ahead of the vote yesterday, South Africa’s ANC party took a combative line saying that “aggression” from the US and the Trump administration is something the country would “fight against”.