Progress has been made regarding the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). During January 2026, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill proposing an extension of AGOA for a further three-year period.

 

It is important to note that this represents one step in the U.S. legislative process, not final approval. The bill must still be considered by the U.S. Senate. Should the Senate approve the legislation, it would then need to be signed into law by the President of the United States to take effect.

While the current bill does not include any provisions that automatically exclude South Africa, AGOA eligibility is not guaranteed by legislation alone. Although Congress determines the eligibility criteria, the U.S. President retains discretion in applying these criteria, meaning that South Africa may still be subject to an eligibility review, either as part of the annual review process or through an ad hoc review, as has occurred with other African countries in the past.

South Africa’s AGOA status has historically attracted scrutiny, particularly on the basis of its middle-income country classification and arguments that it has “graduated” beyond AGOA preferences. While South Africa successfully retained eligibility during the previous renewal cycle, similar considerations are likely to resurface during the upcoming review process.

AGOA renewal therefore remains promising but not yet secured and continued diplomatic and trade engagement will be critical as the process advances through the U.S. Senate and Executive stages.