This trade agreement provides African nations with preferential access to US markets.

Lesotho’s Trade Minister, Mokhethi Shelile, said, on 24 September 2025, that the US is planning to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by one year.

This trade agreement provides African nations with preferential access to US markets and is crucial for many economies, including Lesotho’s, which heavily relies on textile exports to the US.

The announcement follows a visit by a Lesotho trade delegation to Washington from 15-19 September, where they met with US officials from the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.

According to Shelile, these officials expressed unanimous support for extending AGOA, with a decision expected by November or December.

AGOA, set to expire on 30 September, has faced challenges in recent years.

The US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on various African nations, including Lesotho, which severely impacted its export-driven economy.

Lesotho was first imposed with a 50% tariff, which was later reduced to 15% in August 2025.