Trade deals with African countries: US maintains exclusion of Cameroon!.

The decision came after months of disruption, caused by the programme’s lapse.

US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, had announced that US President, Donald Trump, had signed a law reauthorising the pact, through December 31, 2026, with retroactive effect from September 30, 2025, the date which it expired.

“AGOA for the 21st century must demand more from our trading partners and yield more market access for US businesses, farmers, and ranchers,” Greer said.

Greer added that the administration would “work with Congress over the next year to modernise the programme to align with current US policy.” 

Trump has frequently used trade and tariffs, which he has referred to as his “favourite word,” to reshape global commercial relationships.

A central pillar of US–Africa trade for 25 years, AGOA allows the US to import billions of dollars in duty-free cars, clothing and other goods each year from eligible African nations. 

The scheme covers 32 countries but expired last September, forcing exporters to pay higher tariffs and triggering job losses across several industries.

In 2024, $8.23 billion in goods were exported under AGOA, according to the United States International Trade Commission. 

Half of that amount came from South Africa, largely in cars, precious metals and agricultural products. 

Around one-fifth originated from Nigeria, primarily oil and energy shipments.

To qualify for AGOA’s duty-free treatment, countries must establish or make continual progress toward establishing a market-based economy, the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process.

Additionally, countries must eliminate barriers to US trade and investment, enact policies to reduce poverty, combat corruption, and protect human rights.

Cameroon sidelined

It should be recalled that in October 2024, now outgoing United States Ambassador to Cameroon, His Excellency Ambassador Christopher John Lamora, had revealed that the Embassy in Yaounde had been consistently engaged to support and encourage Cameroon’s efforts to meet the criteria for a return to African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGO eligibility, including with respect to human rights. 

In 2019, the United States kicked Cameroon out of AGOA programme for rights violations by security forces in the restive North West and South West Regions.

In 2022, government had disclosed that it had started talks with Washington, for readmission into AGOA, which grants African countries tariff-free access to the US market.

Speaking in Yaounde during the United States Agency for International Development, USAID Cameroon Economic Partnership Forum; that held in October 2024, US Ambassador, Christopher Lamora, had hinted on Cameroon’s possible return to the trade deal.

The senior diplomat had told participants at the high-level forum that in recent years, Cameroon and the United States had faced significant economic challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuating global energy prices, and inflationary pressures.  

Ambassador Lamora said then that in Cameroon, security issues in some parts of the country have created additional uncertainty; stating that despite the said obstacles to growth, the two economies have demonstrated resilience.  

“We all recognise Cameroon’s strong potential for future growth, and the United States is eager to be a part of that success,” the diplomat told the gathering. He added that “…this week, our goal is to explore ways to strengthen US-Cameroon cooperation to advance prosperity in both countries. We will hear from representatives of various US government economic agencies, including Power Africa, Prosper Africa, and the U.S International Development Finance Corporation, among others.”

The US envoy said the United States has consistently demonstrated its commitment to Cameroon’s prosperity, investing millions of dollars annually to support the country’s development, security, and economic growth. 

He said key priorities of the US in Cameroon include improving cooperation on health, security, and the environment; promoting mutually beneficial trade and investment; and providing humanitarian aid in line with shared values.

Since 2014, Ambassador Lamora said the US has been the largest bilateral humanitarian donor, providing emergency food aid to over 1.4 million people.  

On environmental cooperation, he said the US Government has enhanced efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and helped design a National Forest Monitoring System.  

“There is still more we can do together to improve the business climate, which will help attract even greater investment from American companies.  The Embassy has been consistently engaged to support and encourage Cameroonian efforts to meet the criteria for a return to African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA eligibility, including with respect to human rights.  I look forward to collaborating with Minister Mey in the coming months to strengthen our business and commercial ties,” he concluded.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3699 of Monday February 09, 2026