Overview
- The US House voted 340–54 to reauthorize AGOA through 31 December 2028, keeping apparel preferences and the third-country fabric provision intact for current beneficiaries.
- The legislation heads to the Senate, where changes or a rival text could force reconciliation before reaching President Donald Trump for signature or veto.
- A competing bill by Senator John Kennedy proposes a two-year renewal with stricter conditions, including a formal review of US–South Africa relations tied to governance and geopolitical alignment.
- South Africa’s Trade Minister Parks Tau welcomed the House action, saying a renewal would support AfCFTA implementation and give businesses clearer planning horizons.
- Lawmakers’ scrutiny of Pretoria’s foreign policy, including military exercises with China, Russia and Iran, sustains uncertainty for South Africa despite $15 billion in 2024 bilateral trade and reports of supply-chain disruption since AGOA’s lapse in September.