Uncertain Future for Kenyan Workers as U.S.-Africa Trade Deal Approaches Expiration

Mon Oct 20 2025 19:51:18 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) may jeopardize jobs for thousands of workers in Kenya and beyond, with many appealing for an extension of the crucial trade agreement.

In Nairobi's Shona EPZ garment factory, workers face uncertainty as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) is set to expire. This trade law has allowed African nations access to U.S. markets, but its potential end could lead to job losses for thousands, including dedicated workers like Joan Wambui, who supports her family through her sewing job. With envoys lobbying for an extension, African leaders are concerned about the economic consequences of Agoa's lapse. The situation highlights the delicate balance of trade relations between the U.S. and Africa and the profound impact on individual lives.

At Shona EPZ, a garment factory in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, the tension is inescapable.

The industrious thrum of heavy-duty sewing machines fills the plant with a sense of uncertainty as concerns rise about the future of the firm due to the impending expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).

After 25 years of enabling duty-free access for African goods into the U.S. market, the Agoa is set to end soon, sparking fears among thousands of workers who rely on these jobs.

Agricultural products and textiles from Africa are at risk, as the Trump administration's trade policies clash with the aims of Agoa.

Envoys from several African nations are currently lobbying in the U.S. for a potential extension.

Joan Wambui, a 29-year-old worker at Shona EPZ, voices her worries about the looming expiration.

If Agoa expires, where shall we go? she asks, highlighting her reliance on the factory for supporting her family.

The factory's output has already dropped significantly, and the specter of job losses looms large as negotiations continue.

Across Africa, many nations also fear losing access to vital trade markets without Agoa, and leaders are urging the U.S. government for a smooth extension.

This situation serves as a crucial reminder of how global trade policies profoundly affect individual lives.