US senators have introduced a bill to extend the country’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program with sub-Saharan African nations until 2041. Initially passed in 2000, AGOA is scheduled to expire in 2025. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee said in a statement that the AGOA Renewal and Improvement Act is necessary to support continued economic development on the continent while further strengthening ties between the United States and partners in sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to the world’s youngest population and many fast-growing economies, and AGOA has played a critical role in advancing economic development and strengthening US economic engagement in the region.
