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House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), joined by Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Karen Bass (D-CA), introduced today the AGOA and MCA Modernization Act (H.R. 3445).  > Download a copy of the Bill as well as a separate summary at the links alongside.  The bipartisan legislation strengthens both the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Millennium Challenge Act (MCA). AGOA is landmark trade legislation first passed in 2000 to develop a trade relationship...

The US International Trade Commission’s Year in Trade report for 2016 ( >> download the report from the link alongside) shows mixed results among free trade agreement partner countries and preference program nations. At the same time, the ITC has continued to vigorously enforce trade laws and regulations last year as part of its federal responsibilities. U.S. imports under the Generalized System of Preferences program increased 5.6% to $18.7 billion in the year, accounting for 0.9% of total U.S. imports. The top five...

Thirteen years after losing eligibility under the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Central African Republic (CAR) was the site of a two-day workshop on the preferential trade agreement. The CAR has regained its eligibility for AGOA and is priming itself to take advantage of its benefits. Hosted by the West African Trade Hub, the U.S. Embassy in the capital Bangui, and CAR’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the July 11-12 workshop informed more than 70 public and private sector representatives on opportunities offered by...

The US government has been faulted by trade and economic experts for the out-of-cycle review of the American Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) which could see Rwanda and East African countries barred from duty-free access to the US market. The review which began on July 13, is a response to a move by Rwanda and fellow East African Community countries to phase out and eventually ban importation of second hand clothes. This is aimed to develop local and regional textile industries as well as promote the dignity of the East African...

Up in the air seems to be the modus operandi for US trade deals, and the fact that the country’s trade deals have either been withdrawn from or are under scrutiny for renegotiation, has many in the sector seeking duty free alternatives. What brands and retailers will likely uncover—and what proponents will point to as a potential solution—are trade preference programs. The U.S. uses trade preference programs as a way to aid developing nations by giving them greater access to the U.S. market through trade benefits, like no duties on...

The decision by some countries, notably in East Africa, to consider a ban on the importation of worn clothing has elicited strong responses. A portion of imports of such worn clothing originates in the United States. This has led the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), recently announcing the initiation of an out-of-cycle review of the eligibility of the Republic of Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania, and Republic of Uganda to receive benefits under...