South Africa will remain eligible for duty-free access to the United States market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), following the programme’s reauthorisation until 31 December 2026.

US President Donald Trump signed legislation extending AGOA on Tuesday, 3 February, with the renewal applied retroactively from 30 September 2025, when the previous arrangement lapsed. AGOA allows qualifying sub-Saharan African countries to export more than 1 800 products to the US without paying duties.

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau confirmed South Africa’s continued inclusion while speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Afreximbank Accession signing ceremony in Johannesburg.

Tau said that although there had been calls in the US for an out-of-cycle review of South Africa’s eligibility, the government remained committed to the multilateral benefits of AGOA while also being open to bilateral trade engagement with the US.

He noted that South Africa has been one of the leading users of AGOA and plays a key role in supply and value chains that stretch across several African countries.

Agricultural body AgriSA has welcomed the extension, saying it offers short-term relief for exporters and investors but does not provide the long-term certainty businesses need. The organisation says the US remains an important destination for South African agricultural goods, particularly citrus, grapes, wine, fruit juices, nuts and ostrich products.

AgriSA CEO Johann Kotzé says that while the US accounts for only a small share of South Africa’s total agricultural exports overall, certain value chains are heavily dependent on that market. He adds that these industries support thousands of rural jobs and form part of broader regional trade networks. AgriSA has called for a longer-term renewal to strengthen investor confidence and deepen trade cooperation.

Trade union Solidarity has echoed those concerns, urging the US Congress to move quickly toward a multi-year extension. The union says the one-year renewal offers limited certainty for workers and businesses who rely on export-driven industries.

Solidarity’s head of public relations, Jaco Kleynhans, says short-term extensions make it difficult for companies to justify major investments or long-term production planning. The union has begun lobbying US lawmakers for a more durable arrangement, arguing that job security in South Africa should not be undermined by political or legislative delays abroad.

Meanwhile, the Office of the United States Trade Representative says the reauthorised AGOA programme will be reviewed and potentially modernised over the next year to align with US trade priorities.

US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer says future changes should ensure the programme delivers greater market access for American businesses while strengthening trade ties with African partners.

AGOA, first introduced in 2000, is designed to promote economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa. To qualify, participating countries must meet criteria related to market-based policies, the rule of law, human rights and efforts to reduce trade barriers.