AGOA and Beyond: New Trade Directions for Commonwealth African Countries

With the long-term future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) facing an uncertain fate, this edition of Commonwealth Trade Hot Topics examines historical trends in trade between Commonwealth African countries and the US under the programme, and explores the potential implications of an end to AGOA in the future — and the resulting loss of market access benefits — for Commonwealth AGOA beneficiaries.1 It concludes by recommending ways for these countries to mitigate any adverse impacts from a prolonged or permanent loss of AGOA preferences.