On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, US President Donald Trump signed into law a temporary extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), restoring duty-free access for more than 1,800 African products through December 31, 2026.
The renewal is retroactive to September 30, 2025, making Eswatini exporters who were forced to pay tariffs over the past four months eligible for duty refunds.
This follows an earlier legislative action in mid-January, when the U.S. House of Representatives initially passed a three-year renewal bill. The U.S. Senate scaled it back to one year, and both chambers then agreed to send it to the White House.
This injects new life into Washington’s flagship trade programme with Africa and offers welcome relief to Eswatini’s export-oriented industries.
AGOA, first enacted by the US Congress in 2000, provides qualifying sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the US market for thousands of products. Over the years, it has become a cornerstone of Eswatini’s industrialization and export strategy, particularly in labor-intensive sectors such as textiles and apparel, agriculture, agro-processing, and light manufacturing.
For Eswatini, one of 32 African countries eligible under AGOA, this move restores some certainty after months of anxiety following the Act’s lapse on September 30, 2025, under US President Donald Trump’s administration, and reaffirms the United States’ commitment to trade-led development in Africa.
Government Welcomes ‘Timely and Encouraging’ Decision
Responding to the initial vote on the three-year extension, the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini welcomed the House’s approval, calling it timely and critical to sustaining economic growth and employment. In a press statement issued on January 14, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade said the extension provides “much-needed certainty and predictability” for exporters and investors who rely on duty-free access to the US market.
“AGOA has played a critical role over the years in promoting trade, industrial development, export growth, and job creation,” said Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Trade Manqoba Khumalo.
The minister noted that the extension reinforces confidence in our continued access to the United States market and strengthens our long-standing trade and economic partnership with the United States.
Business Community Sees Stability and Opportunity
The business community has echoed government sentiment, viewing the AGOA extension as a stabilizing force amid an increasingly volatile global trade environment. Business Eswatini’s (BE) leadership described the vote as recognition of the strengthening relationship between the Kingdom of Eswatini and the United States of America.
“These opportunities that give us access to the largest markets in the West are very positive news for local businesses,” said BE President Mvuselelo Fakudze. “Many companies have invested heavily to ensure they can supply the US market, and this renewal helps retain jobs and keep businesses viable in a rapidly changing world.”
BUFE Highlights Inclusive Growth and Women-Led Value Chains
BUFE President Thulisile Dladla said the renewal provides much-needed reassurance to Eswatini’s private sector amid the rapidly evolving trade policy landscape in the United States, one of the Kingdom’s most important export markets.
Dladla emphasized that the benefits of AGOA extend beyond large manufacturers to community-based and women-led initiatives integrated into export value chains. She pointed to Vukani BoMake, a program that empowers women in rural areas by enabling their participation in the textile and apparel sector.
“Through initiatives such as Vukani BoMake, many women, especially in rural communities, have been economically empowered through the textile industry,” she said. “The renewal of AGOA strengthens these value chains and helps ensure that the benefits of trade reach households and communities.”