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[1/2] Kenyan workers check clothes made for export at the United Aryan Export Processing Zone (EPZ) factory, operating under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), in Ruaraka district of Nairobi, Kenya October 26, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya Acquire Licensing RightsNov 1 (Reuters) - South Africa will host the annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Johannesburg from Nov 2-4 to discuss the United States' flagship trade programme for the continent. The African Growth and Opportunity Act is a U.S. trade initiative passed in 2000 under former President Bill Clinton to deepen trade ties with Sub-Saharan Africa and help African countries develop their economies. AGOA provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for most agricultural and manufactured products exported by eligible African countries. African countries are pushing for an early 10-year extension without changes in order to reassure businesses and investors who might have concerns over AGOA's future.

Persons: Thomas Mukoya, Bill Clinton, AGOA, Nellie Peyton, Joe Bavier, Alexander Smith Organizations: United Aryan, Processing, U.S ., REUTERS, WHO, AGOA, U.S . Trade, Thomson Locations: Ruaraka district, Nairobi, Kenya, South Africa, Johannesburg, United States, U.S, Saharan Africa, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Ethiopia, AGOA .

U.S. officials visiting South Africa this week to meet African trade ministers will face calls to reauthorise the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which expires in 2025. Apparel companies and industry insiders warn that Africa risks a once-in-a-generation shift away from Chinese manufacturing passing it by, with an estimated 240,000 to 290,000 jobs such as Nasimiyu's under threat. Apparel has been the standout success story of AGOA, which launched in 2000 to help develop African economies and foster democracy. African apparel exports under the programme reached nearly $1.4 billion last year, double the amount pre-AGOA. "We've been struck by how open the opportunity is now for us," South African Trade Minister Ebrahim Patel said last week.

Persons: Norah Nasimiyu, Thomas Mukoya, Pankaj Bedi, Norah Nasimiyu's, We've, Ebrahim Patel, Stephen Lamar, Michael Walsh, Constance Hamilton, Biden, Greg Poole, Bedi, Joe Bavier, Duncan Miriri, Alexander Smith Organizations: United Aryan, Processing, The U.S, REUTERS, U.S . Congress, AFRICA Industry, African Trade, United States Fashion Industry Association, American Apparel and Footwear Association, Congress, Research, U.S . International Trade Commission, GSP, UAL, Thomson Locations: Ruaraka district, Nairobi, Kenya, China, NAIROBI, U.S, South Africa, Africa, Philadelphia, Moscow, Beijing, Russia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Ethiopia, AGOA, gridlock, United States, Johannesburg

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