The U.S. Senate has extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) until 2028, providing a boost to African countries benefiting from preferential access to the U.S. market. But Cameroon remains on the sidelines, having been excluded from the programme since 2020. The situation raises questions about the country’s trade losses and the conditions required to regain this advantage.
On August 7, 2026, the U.S. Senate approved the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) until December 31, 2028, by a vote of 90 to 6. The programme provides eligible countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for more than 1,800 products. The extension is a strategic development for 32 African countries, but it still does not benefit Cameroon, which has been excluded from the programme since 2020.
“Preferential access to the U.S. market through AGOA has never significantly benefited Cameroon’s exports. Cameroon has diversified exports, but the conditions for accessing the U.S. market have not been favourable enough for the Cameroonian private sector to benefit substantially from AGOA. Cameroon’s exclusion has not had a significant impact on trade transactions because there were very few, or insignificant, exports from Cameroon to the United States under AGOA.”
Honoré Justin MONDOMOBE, Economic Intelligence Expert – Cameroon
In 2024, the United States imported approximately USD 247 million worth of goods from Cameroon, compared with USD 193 million in U.S. exports to Cameroon, according to Census Bureau data. Cameroon’s exclusion was not related to its trade performance, but to a U.S. political decision. In October 2019, the United States announced the termination of AGOA preferences effective January 1, 2020, citing serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions and acts of torture attributed to Cameroonian security forces. AGOA eligibility also depends on criteria relating to the rule of law, human rights, anti-corruption efforts and workers’ rights.
“If the United States wants AGOA to be more competitive and more development-oriented, it should change the rules governing access to the U.S. market and the types of products eligible under AGOA. Textiles and similar products are not the main export products of a country like Cameroon. New markets need to be created by promoting products that are not yet exported, which would encourage investors to establish industries in Cameroon targeting the U.S. market.”
Honoré Justin MONDOMOBE, Economic Intelligence Expert – Cameroon
To put the issue into perspective, U.S. imports under AGOA and the associated Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) amounted to USD 8.4 billion in 2024, down from USD 9.7 billion in 2023. Across sub-Saharan Africa, U.S. merchandise trade reached USD 56.4 billion in 2025. Cameroon therefore remains a relatively modest player in this market, but has potential in several export sectors.
“The sectors that could have benefited from exports to the United States under AGOA include handicrafts, the manufacture of small goods and art exports. For Cameroon to benefit, the country needs to reform its product mix towards inputs in telecommunications and the manufacture of small equipment that could stimulate the development of Cameroonian industry.”
Honoré Justin MONDOMOBE, Economic Intelligence Expert – Cameroon
For Cameroon, the extension until 2028 primarily provides additional time to seek a return to the programme. With nearly USD 7.2 billion in exports in 2024, largely driven by hydrocarbons, cocoa and timber, Cameroon has a significant export base, but one that remains concentrated on raw materials. Rejoining AGOA could therefore provide an additional advantage for processed products and help diversify export markets, provided that the country once again meets the eligibility criteria.
