AGOA Apparel Trade Quotas
|
In line with AGOA’s 'Wearing Apparel Provisions’ and associated Rules of Origin, apparel qualifies for duty-free access to the U.S. market subject to a number of conditions. These are outlined in the Apparel Rules of Origin Section.
Countries qualifying for the trade benefits of AGOA and having met the 'Wearing Apparel' provisions may export apparel (and certain textiles) into the U.S. duty-free, subject to an annual limit. Such limit is measured in Square Meter Equivalent (SME), and is set as a fixed percentage of all U.S. imports of apparel in the preceding 12-month period for which data is available.
This annual limit was initially set at 1.5% of total U.S. textile and apparel imports, and was due to increase in equal annual increments to 3.5% by the end of AGOA, September 30, 2008. AGOA II doubled the applicable quotas to7% in year 8. AGOA III extended normal apparel benefits to 2015, without changing the applicable quota limits. This means that from 2008 to 2015, the annual quota limit will be set at 7% based on total imports of apparel into the US (from all sources) during the previous year.
Under AGOA IV, in changes enacted at the end of 2006, the apparel provisions were extended to 2012, subject to certain conditions. For example, the changes introduce a provision whereby certain textiles (notably denim-based) – where it is determined that specific types of fabric are available in African countries in commercial quantities - must be used before similar foreign-sourced fabrics are utilised. For details of the latest enactments, please visit AGOA.info’s legal documents archive. See also the USITC’s assessment of denim fabric deemed to be available in commercial quantities under “General Downloads” here.
 It must be noted that the annual limit applies to aggregate imports into the U.S. of apparel under AGOA. As such, the quota does not discriminate between the (Sub-Saharan African) sources of these imports, and is applied on a first-come first-serve basis. In theory, therefore, it is possible for the annual preference level to be reached before the end of a particular annual period (which runs from October to September). However, the trade data shows that this ceiling is currently still a far way off, especially considering its "moving target" nature (i.e. the fact that the annual quota is re-adjusted upwards based on a proportion of total U.S. textile and apparel imports).
The quota utilisation rate for the annual period October 2003 to September 2004 was set at 956,568,715 SME. For the 12-month period to September 30, 2004, a total of 359,620,442 SME had entered the US under AGOA, which translates into a quota fill-rate of 37.59%. In the 2004/2005 quota year (spanning October 2004 – September 2005) the utilisation rate for the 12-month period to September 2005 stood at 31.54%. The total allowable quota for the full 12-month period was 1,076,876,652 SME. For the full-year period October 2005 to SEPTEMBER 2006, the overall quota utilisation had been 23.43%.
For the period October 2006 to September 2007 the overall quota was set at 1,498,846,694 SME. The sub-quota for LDCs (using 3rd country fabrics) was set at 815,001,892 SME (having been amended from 374,225,583 SME following the changes under AGOA IV.
For the current quota year October 2009 - September 2010, the overall quota is set at 1,628,793,037 (2008/9: 1,711,900,006 SME) and 814,396,518 SME (2008/9: 855,950,003 SME) under the LDC sub-level (enabling use of third country fabrics).
The current quota utilisation to July 2010 (for the annual period October 2009 to September 2010) stands at 9.74%.
 View a large version of the graph as it appears above.
 New data added AUGUST 2010
Utilisation of Apparel Quotas for Annual Period October 2009 - September 2010
|
Total Quota Preference Level: 1,628,793,037 SME
Total Quota Preference Level under LDC Rule: 814,396,518 SME
Total Imports October 2009- September 2010: 158,582,592 SME
Total Imports October 2009- September 2010 under LDC Sub-quota: 155,011,224 SME
Aggregate Quota Fill Rate October 2009- September 2010: 9.74 %
Quota Fill Rate under LDC Rule October 2009 – January 2010: 19.03 %
Note:
The percentage value (below) for exports under the ‘Lesser Developed Country’ Rule is based on the current applicable sub-quota of 814 million SME
| Utilising Regional Fabric | | TOTAL | 3,571,368
| 0.22%
| | GHANA | 19,952
| 0.00% | | LESOTHO | 262,046
| 0.02% | | MADAGASCAR | - | 0.00% | | MAURITIUS | 2,278,469
| 0.14% | | SOUTH AFRICA | 963,541
| 0.06% | | TANZANIA | 18,714
| 0.00% | | UGANDA | 28,645
| 0.00% |
| Under the ’Lesser Developed Country’ Rule |
| TOTAL | 155,011,224
| 19.03% | | BOTSWANA | 2,282,983
| 0.28% | | CAMEROON | 16,819
| 0.00 | | ETHIOPIA | 2,922,646
| 0.36% | | GHANA | 189,081
| 0.02% | | KENYA | 48,984,714
| 6.01% | | LESOTHO | 54,655,638
| 6.71% | | MADAGASCAR | 14,853,542
| 1.82% | | MALAWI | 2,233,976
| 0.27% | MOZAMBIQUE | - | 0.00% | | TANZANIA | 1,219,606 | 0.15% | | SWAZILAND | 20,819,564
| 2.56% | | UGANDA | 399
| 0.00% | | MAURITIUS | 6,832,256
| 0.84% |
Utilisation of Apparel Quotas for Annual Period October 2008 - September 2009
|
Total Quota Preference Level: 1,711,900,006 SME
Total Quota Preference Level under LDC Rule: 855,950,003 SME
Total Imports October 2008 - September 2009: 268,819,120 SME
Total Imports October 2007 – September 2009 under LDC Sub-quota: 261,078,009 SME
Aggregate Quota Fill Rate October 2008 – September 2009: 15.7 %
Quota Fill Rate under LDC Rule October 2008 – September 2009: 30.50 %
Note:
The percentage value (below) for exports under the ‘Lesser Developed Country’ Rule is based on the current applicable sub-quota of 855 million SME
| Utilising Regional Fabric | | TOTAL | 7,741,110
| 15.7%
| | GHANA | 30,015
| 0.00% | | LESOTHO | 1,597,942
| 0.09% | | MADAGASCAR | - | 0.00% | | MAURITIUS | 3,823,011
| 0.22% | | SOUTH AFRICA | 2,017,949
| 0.12% | | TANZANIA | 259,444
| 0.02% | | UGANDA | 12,750
| 0.00% |
| Under the ’Lesser Developed Country’ Rule |
| TOTAL | 261,078,009
| 30.50% | | BOTSWANA | 2,689,032
| 0.31% | | ETHIOPIA | 3,711,463
| 0.43% | | GHANA | 13,673
| 0.00% | | KENYA | 69,522,312
| 8.12% | | LESOTHO | 74,751,255
| 8.73% | | MADAGASCAR | 69,935,256
| 8.17% | | MALAWI | 4,376,013
| 0.51% | MOZAMBIQUE | - | 0.00% | | TANZANIA | 252,885
| 0.03% | | SWAZILAND | 33,926,878
| 3.96% | | UGANDA | 11,871
| 0.00% | | MAURITIUS | 1,887,371
| 0.22% |
Utilisation of Apparel Quotas for Annual Period October 2007 - September 2008
|
Total Quota Preference Level: 1,746,798,542 SME
Total Quota Preference Level under LDC Rule: 873,399,271 SME
Total Imports October 2007 - August 2008: 225,593,998 SME
Total Imports October 2007 – August 2008 under LDC Sub-quota: 217,274,931 SME
Aggregate Quota Fill Rate October 2007 – August 2008: 14.48%
Quota Fill Rate under LDC Rule October 2007 – July 2008: 27.93%
Note:
The percentage value (below) for exports under the ‘Lesser Developed Country’ Rule is based on the current applicable sub-quota of 873mn SME
| Utilising Regional Fabric | | TOTAL | 9,088,384
| 0.52%
| | GHANA | 8,241 | 0.00% | | LESOTHO | 1,338,278 | 0.06% | | MADAGASCAR | - | 0.00% | | MAURITIUS | 3,927,981
| 0.22% | | SOUTH AFRICA | 3,385,698
| 0.19% | | TANZANIA | 365,348
| 0.02% | | UGANDA | 62,838
| 0.00% |
| Under the ’Lesser Developed Country’ Rule |
| TOTAL | 243,921,125
| 27.93% | | BOTSWANA | 3,038,713
| 0.35% | | ETHIOPIA | 4,947,787
| 0.57% | | GHANA | 785,528
| 0.09% | | KENYA | 63,772,300
| 7.30% | | LESOTHO | 68,995,217
| 7.90% | | MADAGASCAR | 65,948,882
| 7.55% | | MALAWI | 3,373,658 | 0.39% | MOZAMBIQUE | - | 0.00% | | NAMIBIA | 514,897
| 0.06% | | SWAZILAND | 32,509,263 | 3.72% | | UGANDA | 34,881 | 0.00% |
Utilisation of Apparel Quotas for Period October 2006 - September 2007
|
Total Quota Preference Level: 1,498,846,694 SME
Total Quota Preference Level under LDC Rule: 815,001,892 SME
Total Imports October 2006 - September 2007: 315,571,659 SME
Total Imports October 2006 – September 2007 under LDC Sub-quota: 298,524,517 SME
Aggregate Quota Fill Rate October 2006 – September 2007: 21.05 %
Quota Fill Rate under LDC Rule October 2006 – September 2007: 36.63 %
Note:
The percentage value (below) for exports under the ‘Lesser Developed Country’ Rule is based on the sub-quota of 815mn SME
| Utilising Regional Fabric | | TOTAL | 17,047,142
| 1.14%
| | LESOTHO | 2,405,726 | 0.16% | | MADAGASCAR | 59,139 | 0.00% | | MAURITIUS | 8,965,947
| 0.60% | | SOUTH AFRICA | 4,943,564
| 0.33% | | TANZANIA | 507,100
| 0.03% | | UGANDA | 165,666
| 0.01% |
| Under the ’Lesser Developed Country’ Rule |
| TOTAL | 298,524,517
| 36.63% | | BOTSWANA | 5,817,749
| 0.71% | | ETHIOPIA | 3,083,555
| 0.38% | | GHANA | 4,038,212
| 0.50% | | KENYA | 63,991,753
| 7.85% | | LESOTHO | 93,545,169
| 11.48% | | MADAGASCAR | 69,451,960
| 8.52% | | MALAWI | 6,300,922 | 0.77% | MOZAMBIQUE | 97,005 | 0.01% | | NAMIBIA | 10,169,911
| 1.25% | | SWAZILAND | 41,913,402 | 5.14% | | UGANDA | 114,879 | 0.01% |
Utilisation of Apparel Quotas for Period October 2005 - September 2006
|
Total Quota Preference Level: 1,344,476,567 SME
Total Quota Preference Level under LDC Rule: 670,349,813 SME
Total Imports October 2005 to September 2006: 314,988,435 SME
Total Imports October 2005 to September 2006 under LDC Sub-quota: 290,456,856 SME
Quota Fill Rate October 2005 to September 2006: 23.43%
Note:
The percentage value (below) for exports under the ‘Lesser Developed Country’ Rule is based on the sub-quota of 670mn SME
| Utilising Regional Fabric | | TOTAL | 24,531,579 | 1.82%
| | GHANA | 4,808 | 0.00% | | LESOTHO | 124,177 | 0.01% | | MAURITIUS | 10,799,903 | 0.80% | | SOUTH AFRICA | 13,112,345 | 0.98% | | SWAZILAND | 3,284 | 0.00% | | TANZANIA | 487,062 | 0.04% | | . | . | . |
| Under the ’Lesser Developed Country’ Rule |
| TOTAL | 290,456,856 | 43.33% | | BOTSWANA | 8,848,972 | 1.32% | | CAPE VERDE | 10,374 | 0.00% | | ETHIOPIA | 2,881,389 | 0.43% | | GHANA | 1,891,507 | 0.28% | | KENYA | 64,046,693 | 9.55% | | LESOTHO | 95,297,829 | 14.22% | | MADAGASCAR | 55,344,362 | 8.26% | | MALAWI | 5,435,277 | 0.81% | MOZAMBIQUE | 221,127 | 0.03% | | NAMIBIA | 12,638,786 | 1.89% | | SWAZILAND | 43,055,027 | 6.42% | | UGANDA | 785,513 | 0.12% |
Utilisation of Apparel Quotas for Annual Period October 2004 - September 2005
|
Total Quota Preference Level: 1,076,876,652 SME
Total Quota Preference Level under LDC Rule: 535,938,914 SME
Total Imports October 2004 - September 2005: 370,677,363 SME
Quota Fill Rate October 2004 - September 2005: 34.42%
| Utilising Regional Fabric | | TOTAL | 27,436,271 | 2.55%
| | MADAGASCAR | 16,360 | 0.00% | | MAURITIUS | 9,196,499 | 0.85% | | SOUTH AFRICA | 17,289,441 | 1.61% | | SWAZILAND | 376,550 | 0.03% | | TANZANIA | 534,141 | 0.05% | | ZAMBIA | 23,280 | 0.00% |
| Under the Lesser Developed Country Rule |
| TOTAL | 343,241,092 | 64.04% | | BOTSWANA | 5,974,145 | 1.11% | | CAPE VERDE | 1,284,785 | 0.24% | | ETHIOPIA | 1,913,609 | 0.36% | | GHANA | 98,285 | 0.02% | | KENYA | 74,989,860 | 13.99% | | LESOTHO | 99,609,001 | 18.59% | | MADAGASCAR | 65,724,351 | 12.26% | | MALAWI | 7,208,264 | 1.34% | MOZAMBIQUE | 474,205 | 0.09% | | NAMIBIA | 17,301,897 | 3.23% | | SWAZILAND | 57,236,254 | 10.68% | | TANZANIA | 286,334 | 0.05% | | UGANDA | 1,820,101 | 0.34% |
Utilisation of Apparel Quotas for Annual Period October 2004 - September 2005
|
Total Quota Preference Level: 1,076,876,652 SME
Total Quota Preference Level under LDC Rule: 535,938,914 SME
Total Imports October 2004 - August 2005: 339,691,279 SME
Quota Fill Rate October 2004 - August 2005: 31.54%
| Utilising Regional Fabric | | TOTAL | 25,991,892 | 2.41%
| | MADAGASCAR | 16,360 | 0.00% | | MAURITIUS | 8,738,717 | 0.81% | | SOUTH AFRICA | 16,350,928 | 1.52% | | SWAZILAND | 376,550 | 0.03% | | TANZANIA | 486,057 | 0.05% | | ZAMBIA | 23,280 | 0.00% |
| Under the Lesser Developed Country Rule |
| TOTAL | 313,699,387 | 58.53% | | BOTSWANA | 5,166,400 | 0.96% | | CAPE VERDE | 1,284,785 | 0.24% | | ETHIOPIA | 1,884,574 | 0.35% | | GHANA | 37,816 | 0.01% | | KENYA | 68,150,522 | 12.72% | | LESOTHO | 92,680,721 | 17.29% | | MADAGASCAR | 60,241,115 | 11.24% | | MALAWI | 6,972,853 | 1.30% | MOZAMBIQUE | 408,740 | 0.08% | | NAMIBIA | 14,970,106 | 2.79% | | SWAZILAND | 52,786,343 | 9.85% | | TANZANIA | 286,334 | 0.05% | | UGANDA | 1,283,413 | 0.24% |
Utilisation of Apparel Quotas October 2003 - September 2004
|
Total Quota Preference Level: 956,568,715 SME
Total Quota Preference Level under LDC Rule: 470,411,241 SME
Total Imports October 2003 - September 2004: 359,620,442 SME
Quota Fill Rate October 2003 - September 2004: 37.59%
| Utilising Regional Fabric | | TOTAL | 39,220,703 | 4.10%
| BOTSWANA | 36,344 | 0.00% | | GHANA | 350 | 0.00% | | KENYA | 20,562 | 0.00% | | MADAGASCAR | 35,134 | 0.00% | | MAURITIUS | 12,831,748 | 1.34% | | SOUTH AFRICA | 25,912,175 | 2.71% | | SWAZILAND | 18,257 | 0.00% | | TANZANIA | 366,132 | 0.04% |
| Under the Lesser Developed Country Rule |
| TOTAL | 320,399,739 | 68.11% | | BOTSWANA | 5,144,072 | 1.09% | | CAPE VERDE | 983,714 | 0.21% | | ETHIOPIA | 1,742,584 | 0.37% | | GHANA | 212,257 | 0.05% | | KENYA | 62,549,787 | 13.30% | | LESOTHO | 107,514,002 | 22.86% | | MADAGASCAR | 61,300,957 | 13.03% | | MALAWI | 7,278,813 | 1.55% | MOZAMBIQUE | 222,278 | 0.05% | | NAMIBIA | 15,368,370 | 3.27% | | SWAZILAND | 56,569,729 | 12.03% | | TANZANIA | 203,887 | 0.04% | | UGANDA | 1,309,289 | 0.28% |
Utilisation of Apparel Quotas October 2002 - September 2003
|
Total Quota Preference Level: 735,905,928 SME
Total Quota Preference Level under LDC Rule: 359,399,147 SME
Total Imports October 2002 - September 2003: 264,469,209 SME
Quota Fill Rate October 2002 - September 2003: 35.94%
| Utilising Regional Fabric | | TOTAL | 42,077,976 | 5.72%
| BOTSWANA | 840,954 | 0.11% | | GHANA | 15 | 0.00% | | MAURITIUS | 15,994,496 | 2.17% | | SOUTH AFRICA | 25,016,459 | 3.40% | | TANZANIA | 216,096 | 0.03% | | UGANDA | 9,955 | 0.00% |
| Under the Lesser Developed Country Rule |
| TOTAL | 222,391,233 | 61.88% | | BOTSWANA | 982,082 | 0.27% | | CAPE VERDE | 858,281 | 0.24% | | ETHIOPIA | 931,341 | 0.26% | | GHANA | 6,035 | 0.00% | | KENYA | 48,411,299 | 13.47% | | LESOTHO | 87,889,071 | 24.45% | | MADAGASCAR | 31,382,806 | 8.73% | | MALAWI | 5,941,835 | 1.65% | MOZAMBIQUE | 429,474 | 0.12% | | NAMIBIA | 5,847,250 | 1.63% | | SWAZILAND | 39,129,865 | 10.89% | | UGANDA | 581,894 | 0.16% |
Utilisation of Apparel Quotas October 2001 - September 2002
|
Total Quota Preference Level: 313,303,986 SME
Total Quota Preference Level under LDC Rule: 313,308,864 SME
Total Imports October 2001 - September 2002: 187,753,717 SME
Quota Fill Rate October 2001 - September 2002: 59.93%
| Utilising Regional Fabric | | TOTAL | 28,874,792 | 9.22% | BOTSWANA | 1,237,181 | 0.39% | | GHANA | 775 | 0.00% | | MADAGASCAR | 9,894 | 0.00% | | MAURITIUS | 14,047,836 | 4.48% | | SOUTH AFRICA | 13,573,299 | 4.33% | | TANZANIA | 5,808 | 0.00% | | |
| Under the Lesser Developed Country Rule |
| TOTAL | 158,878,925 | 50.71% | | ETHIOPIA | 1,227,015 | 0.39% | | GHANA | 150,874 | 0.05% | | KENYA | 28,743,251 | 9.17% | | LESOTHO | 81,908,991 | 26.14% | | MADAGASCAR | 24,268,518 | 7.75% | | MALAWI | 3,444,606 | 1.10% | | MOZAMBIQUE | 5,046 | 0.00% | | SWAZILAND | 19,130,624 | 6.11% |
| |
Sitemap 
