Africa: Trump's Tariffs Have Gutted AGOA's Duty-Free Promise - Our Model Shows How

AllAfrica

March 2, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), established in 2000, aimed to provide eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the US market. However, President Donald Trump's imposition of additional tariffs has effectively nullified this benefit, leaving AGOA's promise largely unfulfilled. Despite a one-year extension in February 2026, the core advantage of duty-free trade has been eroded by reciprocal and "America First" tariffs ranging from 10% to 30%. These measures have significantly reduced exports from Africa to the US, particularly in sectors like apparel, where some countries could lose nearly half their export revenue. The impact on specific countries varies, with Lesotho potentially facing a 5.9% drop in total exports and Madagascar losing approximately $128.5 million in apparel exports. Trade diversion to other markets has partially offset losses, but the overall effect remains substantial. For instance, after accounting for lower tariffs introduced in November 202

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Originally published on AllAfrica on 3/2/2026