While AGOA has historically been framed as a market-access initiative, its latest extension is increasingly positioned as a strategic economic tool – one aimed at reshaping global critical mineral supply chains and diluting China’s dominance across Africa. Strategic Minerals, Strategic RealignmentAGOA’s extension signals a unique opportunity for African nations to address industry challenges. Congressional debate around the extension explicitly referenced China’s estimated $10 billion footprint across African mineral supply chains, spanning long-term offtake agreements, refinery ownership and transport corridors. The AGOA extension, lawmakers argued, offers preferential market access as leverage to encourage alternative partnerships that reduce single-market dependency and diversify Africa’s export options. Historically, African minerals have flowed eastward through infrastructure aligned with Chinese demand and processing capacity.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 19, 2026 16:17 UTC