Impending Expiration of US-Africa Trade Deal Leaves Thousands of Kenyan Workers in Uncertainty

Tue Sep 30 2025 15:54:00 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The potential expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) threatens to disrupt the livelihoods of workers in Kenya's garment industry, amidst ongoing negotiations for an extension.

As the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) approaches its expiration, workers in Kenya's garment sector face potential job losses that could undo years of progress. Despite efforts by African negotiators for an extension, uncertainty looms over the future of trade relations, impacting thousands dependent on these jobs.

At Shona EPZ, a garment factory in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the tension is inescapable.

The industrious thrum of the heavy-duty sewing machines, along with the workers' chatter, normally fills the plant with a reassuring rhythm. But today every sound is tinged with uncertainty as the future of the firm is unclear due to the possible end of a key piece of US trade law.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which has provided African goods duty-free access to the US market for 25 years, is set to expire. The fate of thousands of jobs, including those of workers like Joan Wambui, hangs in the balance.

Envoys from various African nations are negotiating for an extension, yet the outcome remains uncertain. A White House official indicated support for a one-year extension, but no official announcement has been made.

Agoa has been credited with helping to industrialize the continent and lift many nations out of poverty by transitioning from aid to trade.

For workers like Wambui, who has relied on her job at Shona EPZ to support her family, the expiration of Agoa could be devastating. If Agoa expires, where shall we go? she wonders, voicing her concerns about losing not just income but dignity and hope for a better future.

Kenya's apparel industry has seen significant growth under Agoa, with substantial exports to the US. However, uncertainty over trade relations is already affecting production. Normally, Shona EPZ produces nearly half a million garments a month; this year, output drastically declined due to reduced buyer confidence.

Trade policies have broader implications, with over 30 African countries relying on Agoa to export thousands of products to the US.

As negotiations continue, experts urge African countries to proactively define their trade needs and adapt their strategies. Meanwhile, workers like Wambui are left awaiting decisions that could profoundly affect their lives and families.