*The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development says Lesotho exporters will keep duty-free access to the United States market after Washington extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act by two years.*
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development (MTIBD) has notified the Lesotho business community and the nation that the United States has extended the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by two years to 31 December 2028.
Bill signed into law in Washington
The HR 6500 bill containing the AGOA extension was signed into law on 2nd September 2026 by the United States President, giving effect to the two-year extension of AGOA to December 2028.
The extension of AGOA provides continued market access for exports of Lesotho origin to enter the United States duty free. As per the Ministry’s communication in August 2026, since the expiry of the Section 122 tariff lines on 24 July 2026, exports from Lesotho can enter the United States market duty free and under current dispensations this will continue until December 2028.
The Ministry therefore encourages the private sector in Lesotho to take advantage of this market dispensation and opportunity to diversify export products into this market.
What the AGOA extension means for exporters
Effectively this implies that textiles and apparel and fisheries products that are exported from Lesotho enjoy duty free access to the United States market until 2028.
The developments in the United States market bring reprieve on tariffs that were charged on Lesotho’s exports in the past months. The Ministry therefore encourages the private sector in Lesotho to take advantage of this market dispensation and opportunity to diversify export products into this market.
Government seeks deeper trade integration
The Government of Lesotho, through the MTIBD, continues to engage with the United States directly and under the SACU mechanisms towards seeking deeper trade integration and permanent market access for Lesotho’s exports and will update on developments in due course.
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