During the 1990s, the United States realized that it offered few tangible long-term trade benefits to exporters from African countries. In addition, the US wanted to create a more meaningful partnership with African countries based on economic growth and trade, by offering non-reciprocal trade and economic benefits and opportunities to qualifying Sub-Saharan African countries. Despite the US already having a trade preference program in place - the Generalized System of Preferences - AGOA was aimed at offering more attractive and longer-term benefits and incentives beyond those available to Sub-Saharan African countries under the GSP, while also being tied to a range of other commitments and additional US support. 

The AGOA legislation originated in the US Congress. It was widely supported by Democrats and Republicans in a strong showing of bipartisanship, and easily passed both chambers of Congress (the House of Representatives, and the Senate) prior to being signed into law by President Bill Clinton. At the time, the legislation covered the years 2000 – 2008. Later legislative amendments have updated and extended AGOA - first to 2012, then 2015, and then to its current expiry date September 30, 2025.