Legal Documents

Federal Register Announcement - AGOA Apparel Quotas 2018-2019, as published on 01 October 2018  For the one-year period, beginning on October 1, 2018, and extending through September 30, 2019, the aggregate quantity of imports eligible for preferential treatment under these provisions is 2,048,357,135 square meters equivalent. Of this amount, 1,024,178,567 square meters equivalent is available to apparel articles imported under the special rule for lesser- developed countries. Apparel articles entered in excess of these quantities will be subject to otherwise applicable tariffs.

Presidential proclamation to take certain actions under AGOA and for other purposes. 

[This Bill became law on 23 April 2018] This bill directs the President to establish a website for the collection and dissemination of information regarding the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).  The Department of State is urged to promote the use by eligible sub-Saharan African countries of the benefits available under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.  The President is urged to: facilitate trans-boundary trade among eligible sub-Saharan African countries;  provide training for business and government trade officials on accessing AGOA benefits;  provide capacity building for African entrepreneurs and trade associations on production strategies, quality standards, and market development; provide capacity building training to promote product diversification and value-added processing; and  provide capacity building and technical assistance funding to help African businesses and institutions comply with U.S. counter-terrorism policies.  The Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 is amended to permit an eligible country that has entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact to enter into one additional compact under specified conditions.  The bill establishes, beginning with FY2013, new assistance criteria for a low-income or a lower middle income candidate country eligible to enter into a Millennium Challenge Compact with the United States.  The Millennium Challenge Corporation shall: (1) before selecting a...

Request letter concerning USTR / USITC investigation into US trade with Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (TPEA) requires the President to establish a petition process to review the eligibility of countries for the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This authority has been delegated to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Comments on this interim final process required by April 18, 2016. 

A temporary rebate provision under rebate item 460.03/0207.14.9/01.07 has been created for frozen meat of the species Gallus domesticus, cut in pieces with bone in, classifiable in tariff subheading 0207.14.9 and imported from or originating in the United States of America. This is created for such quantities, at such times and subject to such conditions as the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) may allow by specific permit on recommendation of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).

For the one-year period, beginning on October 1, 2015, and extending through September 30, 2016, the aggregate quantity of imports eligible for preferential treatment under these provisions is 1,935,096,830 square meters equivalent. Of this amount, 967,548,415 square meters equivalent is available to apparel articles imported under the special rule for lesser- developed countries.

Federal Register notice announcement on the initiation of an out-of-cycle review (including hearings and submissions) into the eligibility of the Republic of South Africa to receive the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), as required by the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (TPEA)

PUBLIC LAW 114 - 27 - TRADE PREFERENCES EXTENSION ACT OF 2015 (AGOA 2015-2012 extension). This is the AGOA 2015-2025 renewal legislation as signed into law. It is based on Bill H.R. 1295.   Category Bills and Statutes Collection Public and Private Laws SuDoc Class Number AE 2.110:AE 2.110/3:AE 2.110:114-27 Law Number Public Law 114-27 Date Approved June 29, 2015 Full Title An act to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Generalized System of Preferences, the preferential duty treatment program for Haiti, and for other purposes. Bill Number H.R. 1295 Report Number H. Rept. 114-71 Statutes at Large Citations 125 Stat. 416 and 460129 Stat. 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418 and 419 United States Code Citations 19 U.S.C. 1514, 1677, 1677b, 1677e, 1677m, 2271, 2296, 2311, 2317, 2318, 2319, 2323, 2345, 2401g, 2461, 2463, 2465, 2466a, 2466b, 2701, 2703a, 3438, 3501, 3701, 3702, 3703, 3721 and 58c42 U.S.C. 1395m and 1395x Legislative History LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1295:HOUSE REPORTS: No. 114-71 (Comm. on Ways and Means).CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015):Apr 15, considered and passed House.May 14, considered...

An Act, to promote access to benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and for other purposes.  Update: 8 September 2016: Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.  This bill was originally introduced to the House of Representatives on 19 June 2015. On 8 September it was received by the Senate for consideration, and passed on to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 

H.R.1295 - Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015 (AGOA extension legislation, passed by Congress and became Public Law No: 114-27, see separate file) An act to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the Generalized System of Preferences, the preferential duty treatment program for Haiti, and for other purposes.

Bill H.R. 1891 of 17 April 2015 to extend AGOA, the GSP, and for other purposes. Note: this version replaced by H.R. 1295 above

Summary and key points of the AGOA Extension Act 2015. 

In Proclamation 7350 (October 2, 2000), the President authorized the USTR to perform the function of determining whether eligible sub- Saharan beneficiary countries have met the two requirements described above. The President directed the USTR to announce any such determinations in the Federal Register and to implement them through modifications the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS). Based on actions that both Guinea and Madagascar have taken, I have determined that each country have satisfied these two requirements. Accordingly, pursuant to the authority assigned to the USTR in Proclamation 7350, U.S. note 7(a) to subchapter II of chapter 98 of the HTS, and U.S. notes 1 and 2(d) to subchapter XIX of the HTS are modified by inserting ‘‘Guinea’’ and ‘‘Madagascar’’ in alphabetical sequence in the list of countries. The foregoing modifications to the HTS are effective with respect to articles entered, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on date of publication. Importers claiming preferential tariff treatment under the AGOA for entries of textile and apparel articles should ensure that those entries meet the applicable visa requirements. See Visa Requirements Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, 66 FR 7837 (2001).

For the one-year period, beginning on October 1, 2014, and extending through September 30, 2015 the aggregate quantity of imports eligible for preferential treatment under these provisions is 1,833,741,923 square meters equivalent. Of this amount, 916,870,961 square meters equivalent is available to apparel articles imported under the special rule for lesser- developed countries.

Letter to the U.S. Comptroller General by the US House Foreign Affairs Committee requesting a study to examine the effectiveness of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in an effort to better increase investment, trade and job growth between African countries and the United States.

Following receipt of a request dated September 30, 2013 (received October 17, 2013) from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. §1332(g)), the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) instituted four investigations for the purpose of providing the requested information: investigation No. 332-542, AGOA: Trade and Investment  Performance Overview; investigation No. 332-544, AGOA: Economic Effects of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports; investigation No. 332-545, U.S. AGOA Rules of Origin: Possible Changes to Promote Regional Integration and Increase Exports to the United States; and investigation No. 332-546, EU-South Africa FTA: Impact on U.S. Exports to South Africa.