Washington, D. C. — The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) has publicly endorsed the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), emphasizing its importance for sustaining U.
S. Jobs and enhancing commercial ties with Africa.
The CCA, the largest U.
S. -based trade association dedicated to promoting U.
S.
-Africa trade and investment, has been a strong advocate for AGOA since its inception in 2000.
In a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, CCA President and CEO Florizelle B. Liser expressed full support for the AGOA Extension Act, which was introduced on December 8 and aims to extend the trade preference program through December 31, 2028.
AGOA has been a cornerstone of U.
S. -Africa economic relations, providing nearly $1 billion annually in benefits to American consumers and supporting over 300,000 U.
S.
Jobs. CCA argues that extending AGOA is crucial for positioning the United States in the rapidly evolving African economic landscape.
With Africa’s population projected to double by 2050 and consumption markets expanding, the continent is becoming increasingly central to global supply chains and investment flows.
The CCA has actively contributed to translating AGOA’s promise into commercial outcomes, notably through its AGOA Private Sector Forum.
The extension of AGOA is also seen as a strategic move to align with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the world’s largest free trade agreement.
As AfCFTA reshapes Africa’s trade architecture, it is expected to facilitate greater engagement between U. S. Companies and African partners.
Liser highlighted that the extension would create a solid foundation for building on the tools present under AGOA and AfCFTA, enhancing the trade and investment partnership between the United States and Africa. CCA sees the extension as a demonstration of the United States’long-term commitment to Africa at a time when the continent’s economic partnerships are becoming more competitive. By providing predictability through 2028, AGOA’s extension aims to offer certainty for investors and manufacturers on both sides of the Atlantic, particularly in sectors such as apparel, agriculture, automotive components, and light manufacturing.
CCA concluded by commending Chairman Smith’s leadership and reaffirming its readiness to collaborate with Congress to secure early passage of the bill, positioning AGOA as a cornerstone of a renewed, forward-looking U. S. -Africa economic partnership.
