Maseru, Oct.02—Lesotho, Kenya, and other countries had lobbied President Donald Trump administration to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). However,no renewal has been confirmed.
The agreement, which gave many African countries duty-free access to the US market, officially ended on September 30. AGOA was introduced by former United States President Bill Clinton in May 2000. Of the 54 countries in Africa, 32 were eligible under the program in 2024.
According to BBC reports, President Trump’s administration supports a one year extension to the programme, but this has not yet been announced.
Last Wednesday Minister of Trade, Industry, Business Development Mr. Mokhethi Shelile who was head of delegation to the U.S had said they lobbied with Members of Parliament of the U.S whom he said have reportedly agreed to a possible extension next month…
AT/BM
