Dialogue on AGOA Modernization & Beyond
On April 21, the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) convened a “Dialogue on AGOA Modernization & Beyond,” bringing together a diverse cross-section of stakeholders to discuss the future of U.S.-Africa trade relations. The event, held on Capitol Hill, examined AGOA’s renewal ahead of its December 2026 expiration.
Panel I, “Congressional Perspective on AGOA’s Next Chapter,” featured the Hon. Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who offered insights into the legislative outlook for the rest of the 119thCongress and the importance of sustaining bipartisan support for AGOA. According to Ranking Member Meeks, “The United States must continue to lead. AGOA’s renewal is necessary, but it is not sufficient. If we treat this as a routine extension, we will continue to get incremental results. If we treat it like an opportunity to modernize our approach, we can turn AGOA into a platform for long-term economic partnership and shared growth. This is in our economic interest and it is in our strategic interest.” Florizelle B. Liser, President and CEO of the CCA, moderated the panel.
Panel II, “Private Sector & African Diplomatic Perspectives on AGOA, ”featured Tarek Ben Youssef, Deputy Chief of Mission at the African Union; Jennifer Fendrick, Director of Public Policy at KoBold Metals; Jack Buttarazzi, Government Affairs Advisor at Starkist; and Mohamed Diaounne, CEO of Diaounne Freres. Highlighting the critical role of business and diplomacy in shaping the next phase of U.S.-Africa economic engagement, the panel was moderated by Witney Schneidman, President of Schneidman & Associates International and a CCA Board Member.
