US extends AGOA trade deal as Washington seeks to counter China in Africa
The US House voted 370-48 on 1 September to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through 2028 as part of a stop-gap spending bill. The Senate passed an identical bill on 8 August, and the extension now goes to President Trump for signature. The renewal follows a brief lapse of the program in October 2025 and mixed signals from the administration, which had sought reforms.
Why it matters: This extension reflects the ongoing US-China competition for influence in Africa, a key theme in the briefing on great-power rivalry.