Washington — May 28, 2026 — U.S. agricultural organizations are urging the Trump administration to leverage the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to expand access for genetically modified crops in Africa. In a letter to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, a coalition of 15 groups — including the National Corn Growers Association and the American Farm Bureau Federation — argued that restrictive biotechnology regulations across Africa are limiting trade opportunities for American farmers.
AGOA, first launched in 2000, provides duty‑free access for over 1,800 products from eligible sub‑Saharan African countries. However, U.S. farm lobbyists say African nations must adopt more permissive rules on GMOs to fully benefit from the program. “Without encouraging AGOA recipients to align with U.S. policies relating to agricultural biotechnology, African customers are more likely to continue aligning policies with countries that do not prioritize science,” the coalition stated.
The push comes after President Donald Trump extended AGOA through December 31, 2026, describing the renewal as a trial phase to modernize the program under his America First policy. Washington has signaled that African countries will need to open their markets more widely to U.S. goods in exchange for continued trade preferences.
Trade data show the stakes are high. In 2025, U.S.–Africa agri‑food trade flows rose 55 percent to nearly $11.57 billion, with Africa recording a trade surplus of $141 million — the first time in five years the continent exported more food products to the U.S. than it imported.
Despite this growth, GMO adoption in Africa remains limited. Only a handful of countries, including South Africa, Sudan, Nigeria, and Kenya, have authorized genetically modified crops such as Bt cotton, maize, and cowpea. Most governments maintain strict regulations or bans, citing concerns over biosafety, seed sovereignty, and sensitive export markets.
Whether AGOA incentives will shift African regulatory positions remains uncertain. For now, the debate highlights the intersection of trade policy, biotechnology, and food security in shaping U.S.–Africa agricultural relations.
