African Diaspora Network Hill Day: Elevating Diaspora Voices in U.S. Trade Policy

African Diaspora Network Hill Day:
Elevating Diaspora Voices in U.S. Trade Policy

On May 13th, the African Diaspora Network (ADN) brought the power of its network directly to Capitol Hill, mobilizing 22 colleagues from across the diaspora to inform Congress about the impact of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) ahead of its December 31, 2026 expiration. This Hill Day represented a key moment for ADN — an opportunity to ensure that diaspora voices are not just heard, but heeded, at the highest levels of U.S. policymaking. The ADN network arrived on The Hill with a unified message: the diaspora is paying attention.

A cornerstone of our effort was ADN’s strong partnership with the ONE Campaign, whose global reach and advocacy expertise amplified ADN’s message and helped open critical doors on the Hill. Our coalition demonstrated that support of AGOA is broad, bipartisan, well connected, and deeply committed. This partnership reflects what is possible when mission-aligned organizations unite around shared values, an active constituency of practitioners, and a belief that equitable trade can be a powerful engine for mutual prosperity and growth. The ONE Campaign’s collaboration with ADN is a model for how civil society can move policy in meaningful ways, and we are grateful for their partnership.

Our team of 22 advocates divided into four groups and participated in 18 meetings with Senators and Representatives or their senior staff. Discussions focused primarily on these key points:

AGOA enhances U.S.-Africa trade and investment by granting eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to U.S. markets for over 6,500 products. Countries must meet criteria related to market-based economy practices, rule of law, human rights, and economic reform.
AGOA has helped create jobs, both in the U.S. and in African countries. More than 450,000 U.S. jobs are tied to U.S.-Africa trade.
AGOA benefits the United States, and U.S. exports to AGOA countries have increased by nearly 300% since its inception.

At the heart of our Hill Day was a simple truth: Africa matters to America. As ADN will delve into more deeply during our upcoming Africa Day LinkedIn Live, African diaspora communities are bridges — connecting U.S. businesses to African markets, driving investment beyond remittances, and enriching the social and entrepreneurial fabric of the United States. As AGOA’s expiration approaches, ADN calls for swift reauthorization of this landmark legislation, ensuring that the U.S.-Africa relationship continues to thrive as a core component of American economic strength and global leadership.