Kenyan exporters have received a boost after United States President Donald Trump signed legislation extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for another two years.
The extension, signed on Friday, September 4, allows Kenyan exporters to continue accessing the U.S. market duty-free until December 31, 2028.
The Kenyan government welcomed the development, noting that it provides greater certainty for businesses and thousands of workers whose livelihoods depend on preferential access to the American market.
Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui highlighted the textile and apparel industry as one of the key beneficiaries of the extension, with the sector supporting more than 66,000 direct jobs.
"The decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to sign into law the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through December 31, 2028, is highly welcome," Kinyanjui said.
The extension was contained in the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, a wider federal spending package passed by the U.S. Congress.
The renewal comes against the backdrop of pressure from some American lawmakers to remove South Africa from the trade arrangement, which gives qualifying African countries duty-free access to the U.S. market.
For Kenyan manufacturers and exporters, the extension eases months of uncertainty over the future of the programme and provides additional time to plan investments and expand their presence in the American market.
AGOA has been a major component of U.S.-Africa trade relations since 2000, providing eligible sub-Saharan African countries with preferential access to the world's largest economy.
The programme expired in September 2025 before Trump approved a temporary one-year extension in February 2026.
The Trump administration had previously indicated plans to review and potentially overhaul AGOA under its 'America First' policy. The latest two-year extension, however, gives African exporters more time to benefit from the existing framework.
Kinyanjui urged Kenyan businesses to use the additional period to broaden the range of products exported to the United States rather than relying heavily on textiles and apparel.
"Beyond apparel, our focus must now be on using this extended window to expand Kenya's export basket and increase the range and value of products reaching the U.S. market," Kinyanjui stated.
