Lesotho textile workers see short-term relief as AGOA is extended

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act through Dec. 31, 2026, restoring duty-free access that supports Lesotho’s garment exports; the brief extension leaves longer-term trade arrangements undetermined.

Since Lesotho lost tariff-free access to its U.S. garments market last year, some textile workers have been laid off and many households have faced harder conditions. Lesotho relies heavily on textile exports to the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). On Feb. 5, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a one-year extension of AGOA through Dec. 31, 2026. Officials and industry representatives say the extension ends months of uncertainty but does not settle long-term trade policy. Key points: - The U.S. extension of AGOA runs through Dec. 31, 2026, and restores duty-free access for eligible exports. - Lesotho’s textile sector is a leading export industry and the country is highly dependent on U.S. garment demand, with many jobs affected when access lapsed. - Lesotho’s Trade Minister described the one-year extension as insufficient for businesses and called for a longer-term framework; the longer-term outcome is not decided. Summary: The one-year AGOA extension provides temporary relief for Lesotho’s garment sector by restoring duty-free access to the U.S. market. The extension reduces immediate uncertainty, but a durable trade framework and outcomes beyond Dec. 31, 2026 are undetermined at this time.