Joint response by various US retailer associations
On behalf of the joint associations representing apparel brands and retailers, we are writing to offer prehearing comments regarding the review of AGOA eligibility for Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.It is our recommendation that this out of cycle review NOT lead to the suspension or termination ofAGOA benefits for these three countries.
The AGOA program was recently renewed for a ten‐year period. These countries are now at the beginning stage of undertaking the necessary steps to maximize utilization of the AGOA and to foster sustainable economic growth. Withdrawing benefits now would undermine those initiatives, including those fostering market based economies or leading to the elimination of barriers to U.S. trade and investment. Even the threat of withdrawal induces uncertainty that puts progress toward those reforms in jeopardy.
(...) See full comments in the document