The US Senate has approved a two-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The United States Senate has quietly approved a two-year extension of AGOA, moving to keep it in place until the end of 2028. This follows a late extension to the programme in February 2026, which allowed the trade deal to continue until the end of the year. The February extension came almost five months after the Act lapsed in September 2025, and applied retroactively.

AGOA is a US trade programme that allows eligible African countries to export certain products to the United States without paying import duties. It was introduced in 2000 to promote trade and investment between the US and African countries.

The Senate voted 90 to six in favour of the extension, with the AGOA provision included in a larger government funding bill. The legislation must still be approved by the US House of Representatives before it can be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.

The Port of East London has seen many Mercedes-Benz South Africa vehicles leaving under the AGOA agreement

According to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), trade between South Africa and the United States was worth about $15 billion in 2024. South Africa exported goods worth about $8 billion to the US, while imports from the US were about $7 billion, giving South Africa a trade surplus of roughly $1 billion (R242.5 billion).

The extension comes as relations between South Africa and the US remain strained. The two countries have disagreed over South Africa’s foreign policy, including its relations with Russia, China and Iran. South Africa has also taken Israel to the International Court of Justice over its actions in Gaza, a position that has further contributed to tensions with Washington. President Trump has also repeatedly claimed that white South Africans, particularly farmers, are being targeted in a genocide.

“What’s happening in South Africa is terrible. It’s a terrible situation. What they’re doing to people, a certain group of people, is unbelievable. You wouldn’t think it could happen today,” Trump said earlier this year.

“Well, we have seen the numbers, we’ve seen the records, and it is taking place and it’s gotta be stopped.” The South African government and private groups have been at pains to refute Trump’s claims, which echo talking points made by local interest groups.

For further details visit https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/trade-development/preference-programs/african-growth-and-opportunity-act-agoa