Trade Ministry hails AGOA extension as Diplomatic win for Ghana

The Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry has welcomed the one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by the United States, describing it as a major boost for Ghana’s export sector and a critical safeguard for jobs.

In a statement, the Minister, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said the extension, signed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, will protect thousands of Ghanaian jobs, particularly in the garments, agro-processing, cocoa derivatives, and light manufacturing sectors.

According to the Minister, the decision reinforces Ghana’s position as a reliable trading partner in the United States market at a time of heightened global trade uncertainty.

The Ministry explained that the extension follows sustained diplomatic and direct engagements between the Government of President John Dramani Mahama and U.S. authorities after the introduction of new tariff measures that threatened Ghanaian exports.

“It would be recalled that since the imposition of the 10 per cent universal tariff, the Government of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, through the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, engaged U.S. counterparts to mitigate the impact on Ghanaian businesses,” the statement said.

As part of these efforts, the Minister held a series of stakeholder engagements to assure exporters of the government’s commitment to preventing trade disruptions and protecting investment decisions.

The Ministry noted that the United States announced a 10 per cent universal tariff on April 2, 2025, which took effect on April 5, 2025, applying to imports from all countries, including Ghana. The situation worsened on August 7, 2025, when an additional 15 per cent tariff was imposed on Ghanaian exports under a broader U.S. trade policy aimed at addressing trade deficits and promoting reciprocal trade practices.

AGOA, enacted in 2000, has remained a cornerstone of U.S.–Africa trade, granting duty-free, quota-free access to the American market for 32 eligible African countries as of the end of 2024. The Ministry said most Ghanaian exports to the U.S. benefit from this preferential arrangement.

The Trade Minister commended the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and other West African countries for their collective support in securing the extension.

She also praised Ghanaian exporters for their resilience during the period of uncertainty and encouraged them to take advantage of the Accelerated Export Development Programme to expand Ghana’s exports to the U.S. market.