President John Dramani Mahama asserted that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is unlikely to be renewed due to new United States tariffs on African nations. Ghana now faces a 15% tariff on its exports to the US market.
AGOA was scheduled for renegotiation in September. President Mahama observed that the Trump administration disrupted the global trade framework by imposing tariffs on countries that previously benefited from duty-free access. This action has reduced the likelihood of the agreement being renewed.
He conveyed these perspectives during his first media engagement of his second presidential term.
“Countries in Africa previously enjoyed zero tariffs in the US due to our status as developing nations. This was a concession made by the US. However, with President Trump’s administration, there is a more transactional approach. He claims that the US has been taken for granted for too long, resulting in a 15% tariff being imposed on countries like Ghana, which previously had zero tariffs.
“AGOA is effectively dead. It was due for renegotiation in September, but with the implementation of this 15% tariff, there is no possibility of AGOA being renewed. We are observing the situation closely. While Congress holds the authority to impose tariffs, in this instance, President Trump consistently pushes the boundaries,” he remarked.
Since its enactment in 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has been a central component of U.S. economic policy and commercial relations with Africa.
AGOA grants eligible sub-Saharan African nations duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 1,800 products, in addition to more than 5,000 products that qualify for duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences program.
Congress extended AGOA through 2025, but the Trump administration’s protectionist shift now casts doubt on the program’s future.
