Importers and Exporters Association urges swift renewal of AGOA agreement with United States

The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has appealed to the government to expedite negotiations with the United States of America (US) on the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to ease the financial strain currently facing Ghanaian exporters.

Mr Samson Asaki Awingobit, Executive Secretary of the IEAG, made the call during the 2025 Customer Service Week Celebration at the Tema Port, stressing that since AGOA’s expiration, exporters shipping goods to the US have been compelled to pay a 15 percent tariff, introduced under former President Donald Trump‘s administration.

He acknowledged that President John Dramani Mahama had indicated that his government was in talks with the US to address the tariff issue and renew AGOA but expressed concern over the pace of discussions.
“Ghanaian exporters going into the US market are being made to pay the 15 percent. I have heard the President say that the government is engaging the US government, but I think it is too slow. Many importers and exporters have told me they are paying the tariff,” he said.

Mr Awingobit warned that the delay could negatively impact Ghana’s export revenue, as the country risks losing opportunities to balance trade flows and earn foreign exchange. “We don’t want ships bringing imports to Ghana to return empty. The government also needs hard currency to work. Our biggest export market is the US. Can we do something and get this thing done quickly to avoid a hard currency problem again?” he urged.

He further noted that revenue from exports continues to play a vital role in sustaining Ghana’s economy, acknowledging that while government efforts to expand into the Chinese market, with its zero-tariff advantage, were commendable, the US remained a critical destination for Ghana’s exports.