Extending US-Africa Duty-Free Trade until 2041 with Stricter Human Rights Rules.
This law significantly extends the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), granting duty-free access to the US market for eligible sub-Saharan African goods until 2041. Crucially, it introduces mandatory, stricter enforcement mechanisms, tying trade benefits directly to a country's continual progress in meeting requirements related to human rights, anti-corruption, and counter-terrorism. For US consumers, this ensures continued access to diverse imported goods while strengthening ethical sourcing standards, particularly regarding forced labor.
Key points
Extends duty-free trade benefits for sub-Saharan African countries for 16 years, securing long-term trade stability and potentially affecting consumer product availability.
Mandatory biennial reviews and stricter enforcement rules are introduced to ensure partner countries comply with human rights, anti-corruption, and anti-terrorism standards.
New requirements mandate reporting and procedures to prevent the importation of textiles and apparel made with forced labor.
High-income countries will automatically lose benefits after five years, unless the US initiates free trade agreement negotiations.
Expired
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