United States President Donald Trump has issued a proclamation extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), preserving duty-free market access for Kenya into the United States until December 31, 2026.
Signed on May 19, the extension formally amends section 506B of the Trade Act of 1974, a legal framework that regulates U.S. business relations with other nations, ensuring beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries maintain preferential trade access.
According to the embassy, section 5019(a)(1)(A) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Public Law 119-75), amended section 506B of the Trade Act of 1974 (the “Trade Act”) (19 U.S.C. 2466b), as amended, and section 5019(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, amended section 112(g) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (the “AGOA”) (19 U.S.C. 3721(g)), stipulating that for beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, duty-free treatment under title V of the Trade Act remains effective through December 31, 2026.
For Kenya, this declaration affects more than 6,500 product lines covered by AGOA, providing Kenyan exporters not only business relief but also a competitive advantage in one of the world’s most lucrative markets.
Textiles and apparel constitute over 90 percent of Kenya’s AGOA exports, supporting numerous jobs across Nairobi, Mombasa, and Athi River.
A critical provision maintained by this extension is the third-country fabric rule, enabling Kenyan manufacturers to source materials from countries like China or India, produce garments locally, and still qualify for duty-free entry into the American market.
In addition to clothing, Kenyan farmers will also benefit directly. Agricultural products such as coffee, black tea, macadamia nuts, fresh flowers, fruits, and vegetables maintain duty-free access to American supermarkets under the extended agreement.
Kenya currently exports an estimated $730 to $830 million (approximately Ksh94.5 billion to Ksh107.5 billion), with a substantial portion of these export revenues potentially influenced by the new directive.
However, certain Kenyan sectors have encountered difficulties entering the U.S. market, including horticulture, processed foods, floriculture, and meat exports, which confront substantial obstacles there.
According to the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards Constraints in Kenya, this is due to high FDA interception rates, pesticide Maximum Residue Limits, quarantine pest concerns, and stringent phytosanitary inspections, making market penetration into the United States considerably more difficult than for established European counterparts.
Nevertheless, Kenyan trade and agricultural stakeholders have been negotiating with U.S. counterparts to develop streamlined certification protocols, focusing particularly on the horticulture sector, with the goal of improving the current perception of Kenyan exports.
The proclamation also reinstates Gabon as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country, effective January 1, 2026, following the West African nation’s loss of AGOA status in December 2023 due to failure to meet democratic governance benchmarks after a military coup.