The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a United States Trade Act, enacted on 18 May 2000 as Public Law 106 of the 200th Congress. AGOA has since been renewed to 2025. The legislation significantly enhances market access to the US for qualifying Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Qualification for AGOA preferences is based on a set of conditions contained in the AGOA legislation. In order to qualify and remain eligible for AGOA, each country must be working to improve its rule of law, human rights, and respect for core labor standards
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) accords duty-free treatment to virtually all products exported by beneficiary sub-Saharan (SSA) countries to the United States. AGOA provides beneficiary countries with the most liberal access to the United States market accorded to any country or region that has not negotiated a free trade agreement with the United States. On June 25, 2015, the AGOA bill, which was enacted in 2000, was extended until 2025. This extension covers the Third Country Fabric provision, also until 2025. AGOA benefits are currently extended to 37 SSA countries and to more than 1,800 tariff line items, in addition to the 4,600 items already enjoying duty-free status under the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences program. AGOA has added items to the list of duty-free products, including major import-sensitive items such as apparel, footwear, luggage, handbags, and watches.