Updated 14 November 2026
AGOA Kenya access is in force through 31 December 2028. The African Growth and Opportunity Act gives eligible sub-Saharan African countries, including Kenya, duty-free entry to the United States for qualifying goods. Kenya is listed by the US Trade Representative as eligible this year, including for textile and apparel benefits. US goods imports from Kenya were $862.2 million in 2025, according to USTR.
Checked on 12 November 2026 against the USTR Kenya country page, the 3 February 2026 USTR statement on reauthorization through 31 December 2026 (Public Law 119-75, retroactive to 30 September 2025), Public Law 119-103 of 2 September 2026, which extended the programme dates from 2026 to 2028 (the US Code note on 19 U.S.C. 2466b records that substitution), and the certificate of origin Kenya guide on this site. Confirm current eligibility and the product list on official US pages before you ship. Rules can change.
On this page
In this guide
What AGOA Kenya access is, and until when
AGOA Kenya access comes from a US law, not a Kenyan one. USTR’s background to the February 2026 reauthorization says it gives eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access for over 1,800 products, on top of more than 5,000 products that can enter duty-free under the Generalized System of Preferences. Countries must meet eligibility tests that USTR summarises as progress toward a market-based economy, the rule of law, political pluralism and due process, and policies on US trade, poverty, corruption and human rights.
The USTR Kenya page, checked on 12 November 2026, states: “Kenya is eligible for AGOA this year. It also qualifies for textile and apparel benefits.” That is the official US position on AGOA Kenya eligibility for AGOA Kenya shipments at the time we checked. Eligibility is reviewed, so confirm the current year on the USTR page before you price a contract.
The 2025 lapse and the two 2026 extensions
AGOA’s previous authorisation ended on 30 September 2025. On 3 February 2026, USTR said President Trump signed legislation reauthorizing AGOA through 31 December 2026, with retroactive effect to 30 September 2025 (Public Law 119-75). On 2 September 2026, Public Law 119-103, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, amended the relevant AGOA dates by striking “2026” and inserting “2028”. The official US Code note on 19 U.S.C. 2466b records that duty-free treatment for beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries “shall remain in effect through December 31, 2028.”
That is the legal position this guide relies on: AGOA Kenya benefits are authorised through 31 December 2028, unless Congress changes the law again. Exporters who paid duty during the lapse should take advice from US Customs and Border Protection on any refund window created by the retroactive legislation; this page does not set out a claims process we have not verified from CBP.
Seven steps to use AGOA Kenya duty-free entry
- Confirm Kenya is still an eligible beneficiary for the year of shipment, including textile and apparel benefits if you export garments, on the official USTR country page.
- Confirm the programme itself is still authorised through your shipment date. As of 12 November 2026, US law runs to 31 December 2028.
- Confirm your product is on the AGOA-eligible list in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. USTR and US Customs publish the official lists. Do not assume a product qualifies because a similar item does.
- Meet the rules of origin. Apparel often depends on specific fabric and assembly rules, including any third-country fabric provisions that are in force for that year. Read the current US statutory and HTSUS rules, not a blog summary.
- Get the right origin document. Kenya issues several types of certificate of origin, depending on the destination scheme. Our guide to a certificate of origin Kenya (live from the morning of 14 November 2026) sets out the types and how to apply. Use the certificate the US programme actually requires.
- Clear the goods out of Kenya through the official channels: KRA Customs, and for plants and plant products the KEPHIS and export licensing path described in our avocado export guide, which is a useful model for other agricultural goods.
- Enter the goods correctly in the United States, with the AGOA preference claimed on the US entry and with documents that match the HTSUS line. Your US importer or broker should use the official CBP procedure.
What USTR publishes about Kenya-US trade
On the USTR Kenya page, total US goods and services trade with Kenya was an estimated $3.4 billion in 2025, up 7.2% from 2024. US goods trade was an estimated $1.8 billion. US goods exports to Kenya were $982.4 million, up 29.6%. US goods imports from Kenya were $862.2 million, up 17.0%, leaving a US goods trade surplus of $120.2 million. Those are official US figures for the whole goods relationship, not an AGOA-only subset. USTR also notes Trade and Investment Framework Agreements with the East African Community (2008) and COMESA (2001), of which Kenya is a member.
What this guide does not promise
AGOA Kenya access is a US preference programme with a fixed end date, eligibility reviews and product-by-product rules. An AGOA Kenya claim does not promise that a named Kenyan product will enter duty-free, that eligibility will last beyond 31 December 2028, or that using this article will influence a US Customs decision. It also does not replace the certificate-of-origin, KEPHIS or KRA processes.
For an AGOA Kenya shipment in 2026, the verified facts are: AGOA Kenya eligibility is stated on the USTR Kenya page, AGOA Kenya duty-free treatment is authorised through 31 December 2028, and each AGOA Kenya product must be on the official HTSUS list with the correct origin document. Re-check those official US pages before you book space on a vessel.
Frequently asked questions
Until when does AGOA Kenya duty-free access run?
Through 31 December 2028, under Public Law 119-103 and the US Code note on 19 U.S.C. 2466b, unless the law is changed again. Confirm on official US pages before you ship.
Is Kenya currently eligible, including for apparel?
USTR’s Kenya page, checked on 12 November 2026, says Kenya is eligible this year and qualifies for textile and apparel benefits.
Did AGOA expire in 2025?
The previous authorisation ended on 30 September 2025. It was reauthorized on 3 February 2026 through 31 December 2026, retroactive to that expiry, and then extended to 31 December 2028 on 2 September 2026.
Where do I get a certificate of origin?
In Kenya, through the official certificate-of-origin process. Start with our certificate of origin Kenya guide and the issuing body named there for your scheme.
Related: Avocado export Kenya 2026: licences, KEPHIS fees, full steps
Related: Certificate of origin Kenya: 5 types and simple steps to apply
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