US renews key trade pact with Africa

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Following a months-long delay, the US recently renewed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) - a key trade deal between Washington and dozens of African countries that was first enacted in 2000. AGOA enables African countries to export select goods to the US duty free. While previous US administations renewed the deal for periods of upto 10 years, President Trump's government has offered to extend it for just one year. We look at what this means for the 32 African countries that currently benefit from the agreement.

And we speak to Ntungamili Raguin, the 17-year-old tennis player from Botswana who made history at the just concluded Australian Open, where he reached the round of last 16 in the junior tournament.

Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna
Producers: Bella Twine, Priya Sippy and Blessing Aderogba
Technical Producer: David Nzau
Senior Producer: Charles Gitonga
Editors: Samuel Murunga and Maryam Abdalla
9 Feb 10AM English United Kingdom News

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