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Trump's tariffs and Africa: Agoa trade deal's future in question

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80% Informative

Lesotho has become the poster child for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa ) A 25-year-old piece of US legislation guaranteeing duty-free access to American consumers for certain goods from Africa .

The aim was to help industrialise the continent, create employment and lift dozens of countries out of poverty.

South Africa , which exports metals and cars, believes this spells the end of Agoa.

A bill seeking a renewal of Agoa until 2041 was released by Democrat Senator Chris Coons over a year ago , but it may not make any progress in the current Congress .

Analyst says America appears to be "destroying its own instruments of influence with abandon now" China , already Africa 's biggest trading partner, could take further advantage.