United States and Congo Trade Hits Record High on Critical Mineral Demand
Washington, Monday, 17 August 2026.
Trade between the U.S. and the DRC surged to $2.15 billion in 2025, driven by critical minerals, highlighting AGOA’s pivotal role in securing global energy supply chains.
Record Trade Growth Reported at USTR Hearing
On 17 August 2026, the Foreign Trade Ministry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo presented data during a United States Trade Representative hearing highlighting record trade volume expansion between the two nations [1]. Officials emphasized the transformative economic impact of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, framing the bilateral trade framework as vital for securing critical mineral supply chains [1]. Bilateral trade between the U.S. and the DRC reached US$2.15 billion in 2025, a significant increase from US$541 million in 2024 [1]. This surge represents a percentage growth of 297.412 year-over-year, driven primarily by imports of cobalt and copper [1]. U.S. exports totaled US$223.8 million, while imports from the DRC were US$1.93 billion [1].
Strategic Mineral Supply Chains
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is leveraging the African Growth and Opportunity Act to transition from raw material exportation to industrialization, focusing on value-added processing of critical minerals [1]. The nation holds substantial global reserves of critical minerals essential for the energy transition, making the partnership strategic for American supply chains [1]. Amidst this economic expansion, reports emerging on 14 August 2026 suggest that the DRC, along with Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, are reportedly paying U.S. firms linked to Donald Trump for access to Washington [2]. These reports raise concerns over the growing influence of private intermediaries and political connections in shaping African governments’ diplomatic reach alongside formal trade agreements [2].
Future Projections and Eligibility
The DRC government projects bilateral trade could exceed US$4.3 billion by 2030, contingent on AGOA renewal and the December 2025 U.S.-DRC Strategic Partnership [1]. To attract American investment, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to AGOA eligibility criteria, pledging to continue reforms in rule of law, investment climate, anti-corruption, worker rights, human rights, and market transparency [1]. Since the DRC’s reinstatement into AGOA in December 2020, bilateral trade grew from US$181.9 million to over US$2.15 billion by 2025, an increase of nearly US$2 billion over five years [1]. The Democratic Republic of the Congo respectfully requests that the United States reaffirm the country’s eligibility under AGOA to reinforce one of the most strategic economic partnerships on the African continent [1].