No official summary available for this bill.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10366 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10366
To reauthorize the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 11, 2024
Mr. James introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``AGOA Extension and
Enhancement Act of 2024''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Extension of African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Sec. 3. Review, enforcement, and reporting requirements.
Sec. 4. Improving utilization of African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Sec. 5. Graduation of beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries.
Sec. 6. Modification of eligibility requirements.
Sec. 7. Report on enforcement of prohibition on importation of goods
made with forced labor.
Sec. 8. Reports on implementation and potential trade agreements.
Sec. 9. United States International Trade Commission report on
expanding articles covered by African
Growth and Opportunity Act.
Sec. 10. African Growth and Opportunity Act forum and other updates.
Sec. 11. Updating protections against transshipment of certain textiles
and apparel articles.
Sec. 12. Technical corrections.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT.
(a) In General.--Section 506B of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.
2466b) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting
``September 30, 2037''.
(b) African Growth and Opportunity Act.--
(1) In general.--Section 112(g) of the African Growth and
Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(g)) is amended by striking
``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2037''.
(2) Extension of regional apparel article program.--Section
112(b)(3)(A) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19
U.S.C. 3721(b)(3)(A)) is amended--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``21 succeeding''
and inserting ``33 succeeding''; and
(B) in clause (ii)(II), by striking ``September 30,
2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2037''.
(3) Extension of third-country fabric program.--Section
112(c)(1) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C.
3721(c)(1)) is amended--
(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking
``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30,
2037'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``September
30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2037''; and
(C) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking
``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30,
2037''.
(c) Reporting Requirement.--Section 110(c) of the Trade Preferences
Extension Act of 2015 (19 U.S.C. 3705 note) is amended by striking
``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``September 30, 2037''.
SEC. 3. REVIEW, ENFORCEMENT, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 506A(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2466a(a)) is amended by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and
inserting the following:
``(2) Monitoring and review of certain countries.--
``(A) Biennial review.--
``(i) In general.--Not less frequently than
once every 2 years, the President shall
monitor, review, and report to Congress on the
progress of each country listed in section 107
of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19
U.S.C. 3706) in meeting the requirements
described in paragraph (1) in order to
determine the current or potential eligibility
of the country to be designated as a
beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for
purposes of this section.
``(ii) Reporting.--The President's
determinations, and explanations of such
determinations, with specific analysis of the
eligibility requirements described in paragraph
(1)(A), shall be included in the biennial
report required by section 106(a)(1).
``(iii) Frequency.--The President shall
conduct full reviews pursuant to subsection (i)
with respect to a subset of countries listed in
section 107 of the African Growth and
Opportunity Act chosen in a manner that ensures
that on an annual basis full reviews are
conducted for at least one half of the
countries listed in section 107 of the African
Growth and Opportunity Act and to ensure that
every country listed in such section 107 is
reviewed at least once every 2 years.
``(B) Out of cycle review.--
``(i) In general.--The President may, at
any time, initiate an out-of-cycle review of
whether a beneficiary sub-Saharan African
country is making continual progress in meeting
the requirements described in paragraph (1).
The President shall give due consideration to
petitions received under subsection (d)(3) in
determining whether to initiate an out-of-cycle
review under this subparagraph.
``(ii) Public notice.--The President shall
also publicly announce the commencement of each
out-of-cycle review conducted pursuant to this
subparagraph unless, upon prior consultation
with the appropriate congressional committees,
the President determines that such an
announcement would not be in the national
security or foreign policy interest of the
United States. For each review so publicly
announced, the President shall also publicly
announce the results of the review when
concluded.
``(C) Initiation of out-of-cycle reviews by
congress.--If the chairperson and ranking member of one
of the appropriate congressional committees jointly
submit a request for an out-of-cycle review of a
beneficiary sub-Saharan African country based on the
assertion that the country is not making continual
progress in meeting the requirements described in
paragraph (1), the President shall--
``(i) not later than 15 days after
receiving the request, initiate an out-of-cycle
review of whether the country is making
continual progress in meeting those
requirements; and
``(ii) not later than 45 days after
receiving the request, submit a classified or
unclassified report to the appropriate
congressional committees on the review that
includes--
``(I) the determination of the
President, pursuant to the review, of
whether or not the country is making
continual progress in meeting the
requirements described in paragraph
(1);
``(II) a description of the
considerations entering into that
determination, including a specific
analysis of the requirements described
in paragraph (1); and
``(III) if the President determines
that the country is not making
continual progress in meeting those
requirements, the matters described in
clauses (ii) through (iv) of paragraph
(4)(B).
``(D) Delegation.--If the President delegates
responsibility for conducting reviews under
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), the President shall
delegate that responsibility jointly to--
``(i) the United States Trade
Representative or a designee of the Trade
Representative serving in a position to which
the designee was appointed by the President by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate;
and
``(ii) the Secretary of State or a designee
of the Secretary serving in a position to which
the designee was appointed by the President by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
``(3) Continuing compliance.--
``(A) In general.--If, pursuant to a review
conducted under paragraph (2), the President determines
that a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country is not
making continual progress in meeting the requirements
described in paragraph (1), the President shall,
subject to paragraph (4)--
``(i) terminate the designation of that
country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African
country for purposes of this section;
``(ii) withdraw, suspend, or limit the
application of duty-free treatment to any
article of the country that is described in
subsection (b)(1) or section 112 of the African
Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721);
``(iii) issue a warning letter to the
country detailing concerns with the lack of
progress of the country in meeting the
requirements described in paragraph (1) and
providing notice that, if corrective action is
not taken before the next review of the country
under paragraph (2), the President may take
action under clause (i) or (ii) based on the
results of that review; or
``(iv) take no action under clause (i),
(ii), or (iii) if the President determines
that--
``(I) the compliance of the country
with the requirements described in
paragraph (1) will be most effectively
promoted by other means; or
``(II) the economic and foreign
policy interests of the United States
will be most effectively advanced by
taking no action.
``(B) Effective date.--An action taken under
subparagraph (A) shall be effective with respect to a
country--
``(i) for biennial reviews conducted under
paragraph (2)(A), on January 1 of the year
following the year in which the determination
that the country is not making continual
progress in meeting the requirements described
in paragraph (1) is made;
``(ii) for out-of-cycle reviews conducted
under subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (2),
not later than 90 days after such a
determination is made.
``(4) Notification, reporting, and briefing.--
``(A) Notification.--If, pursuant to a review
conducted under paragraph (2), the President determines
that a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country is not
making continual progress in meeting the requirements
described in paragraph (1), the President shall notify
the appropriate congressional committees and the
government of the country of the President's
determination and any action the President is
considering taking not less than 60 days before taking
any action with respect to the country under paragraph
(3)(A) or determining to take no action as described in
clause (iv) of that paragraph.
``(B) Report required.--Not later than 15 days
after providing notification under subparagraph (A)
with respect to a country, the President shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a
classified or unclassified report, informed by the
United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of
State, that includes--
``(i) a description of the considerations
entering into the determination that the
country is not making continual progress in
meeting the requirements described in paragraph
(1), including a specific analysis of those
requirements;
``(ii) an analysis of the expected economic
and political effects of--
``(I) the action the President
intends to take under paragraph (3)(A)
with respect to the country; or
``(II) taking no action, if the
President determines to take no action
as described in clause (iv) of that
paragraph;
``(iii) an explanation of the role of the
action or determination to take no action in
the overall strategy of the United States
toward the country; and
``(iv) an explanation of what actions by
the country would result in the restoration of,
as applicable--
``(I) the designation of the
country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan
African country for purposes of this
section; or
``(II) the application of duty-free
treatment to articles of the country.
``(C) Briefing required.--Not later than 30 days
after providing notification under subparagraph (A),
the United States Trade Representative and the
Secretary of State shall provide briefings to the
appropriate congressional committees addressing--
``(i) the findings of the review conducted
under paragraph (2); and
``(ii) the contents of the report required
by subparagraph (B).''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2461 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 506A (19 U.S.C. 2466a)--
(A) by striking subsection (c);
(B) in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (4);
and
(C) in subsection (e)--
(i) by striking ``Beneficiary Sub-Saharan
African Countries, Etc.--For purposes of this
title--'' and inserting ``Definitions.--In this
title:'';
(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and
(2) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively;
and
(iii) by inserting before paragraph (2), as
so redesignated, the following:
``(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
`appropriate congressional committees' means--
``(A) the Committee on Ways and Means and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
``(B) the Committee on Finance and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate.''; and
(2) in section 506B (19 U.S.C. 2466b), by striking
``section 506A(c)'' and inserting ``section 506A(e)''.
SEC. 4. IMPROVING UTILIZATION OF AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT.
(a) Modification of Designation Authority.--
(1) In general.--Section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1)) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) if the country has published an AGOA
utilization strategy that meets the requirements of
section 118 of the African Growth and Opportunity
Act.''.
(2) Applicability.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)--
(A) take effect on the date of the enactment of
this Act; and
(B) apply with respect to a country that is a
beneficiary sub-Saharan African country as of such date
of enactment and that has not published a national
utilization strategy as required by section 118 of the
African Growth and Opportunity Act (as added by
subsection (b)) by the date that is not later than 1
year after such date of enactment.
(b) Biennial Utilization Strategies.--Subtitle B of the African
Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 118. BIENNIAL UTILIZATION STRATEGIES.
``(a) Sense of Congress.--
``(1) In general.--It is the sense of Congress that--
``(A) beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries
should develop utilization strategies on a biennial
basis in order to more effectively and strategically
utilize benefits available under this Act and section
506A of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466a) (in
this section referred to as `AGOA utilization
strategies');
``(B) United States trade capacity building
agencies should work with, and provide appropriate
resources to, such sub-Saharan African countries to
assist in developing and implementing biennial AGOA
utilization strategies; and
``(C) as appropriate, and to encourage greater
regional integration, the United States Trade
Representative should consider requesting the Regional
Economic Communities to prepare biennial AGOA
utilization strategies.
``(2) Contents.--It is further the sense of Congress that
biennial AGOA utilization strategies should identify strategic
needs and priorities to bolster utilization of benefits
available under this Act. To that end, biennial AGOA
utilization strategies should--
``(A) review potential exports under this Act and
section 506A of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466a)
and identify opportunities and obstacles to increased
trade and investment and enhanced poverty reduction
efforts;
``(B) identify obstacles to regional integration
that inhibit utilization of benefits under this Act and
section 506A of the Trade Act of 1974;
``(C) set out a plan to take advantage of
opportunities and address obstacles identified in
subparagraphs (A) and (B), improve awareness of this
Act as a program that enhances exports to the United
States, and utilize United States Agency for
International Development regional trade hubs;
``(D) set out a strategy to promote small business
and entrepreneurship; and
``(E) eliminate obstacles to regional trade and
promote greater utilization of benefits under this Act
and section 506A of the Trade Act of 1974 and establish
a plan to promote full regional implementation of the
Agreement on Trade Facilitation of the World Trade
Organization.
``(3) Publication.--It is further the sense of Congress
that--
``(A) each beneficiary sub-Saharan African country
should publish on an appropriate internet website of
such country public versions of its AGOA utilization
strategy; and
``(B) the United States Trade Representative should
publish on the internet website of the Office of the
United States Trade Representative public versions of
all AGOA utilization strategies described in
subparagraph (A).
``(b) Assistance To Implement Utilization Strategies.--
``(1) Eligibility.--Each beneficiary sub-Saharan African
country that has published an AGOA utilization strategy as
described in paragraph (3) of subsection (a) that meets the
criteria described in paragraph (2) of that subsection is
eligible for the assistance described in paragraph (2).
``(2) Trade capacity building assistance.--The
Administrator of the United States Agency for International
Development should assist each country that is eligible under
paragraph (1) in the implementation of the AGOA utilization
strategy of the country, including assistance in--
``(A) developing a business environment conducive
to international trade and investment;
``(B) establishing trade-related infrastructure and
industrial zones;
``(C) conducting export promotion activities;
``(D) modernizing and improving customs operations
and procedures;
``(E) meeting sanitary and phytosanitary standards;
``(F) minimizing technical barriers to trade;
``(G) protecting intellectual property rights;
``(H) implementing the Agreement on Trade
Facilitation of the World Trade Organization;
``(I) furthering labor and environmental standards;
and
``(J) other trade capacity building activities.
``(c) Beneficiary Sub-Saharan African Country Defined.--In this
section, the term `beneficiary sub-Saharan African country' has the
meaning given that term in section 506A(e) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2466a(f)).''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the African
Growth and Opportunity Act is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 117 the following:
``Sec. 118. Biennial utilization strategies.''.
(d) Conforming Repeal.--Section 107 of the Trade Preferences
Extension Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-27; 129 Stat. 368) is repealed.
SEC. 5. GRADUATION OF BENEFICIARY SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES.
(a) Graduation.--Section 506A of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.
2466a) is amended by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Mandatory Graduation of High Income Countries.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided by paragraph (2), if
the President determines that a beneficiary sub-Saharan African
country has been classified, under the official statistics of
the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as a
`high income' country for a period of 5 consecutive years, the
President shall terminate the designation of the country as a
beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of this
section and as a beneficiary developing country for purposes of
this title, effective on January 1 of the second year following
the year in which that determination is made.
``(2) Exception.--After a country has been designated as
`high income' for a period of 5 consecutive years as described
in paragraph (1), the President may elect to maintain the
designation of the country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African
country for purposes of this section and as a beneficiary
developing country for purposes of this title for not more than
an additional 5 years to allow for the negotiation of a free
trade agreement with that country, in accordance with the
policy described in section 116(a) of the African Growth and
Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3723(a)).''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2461 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 502(e), by striking ``If the President'' and
inserting ``Except as provided by section 506A(c), if the
President''; and
(2) in section 506A(a)(1)(B)--
(A) by striking ``subsections (a), (d), and (e)''
and inserting ``subsections (a) and (d)''; and
(B) by inserting ``(other than subsection (e) of
that section)'' after ``in section 502''.
SEC. 6. MODIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
(a) Mandatory Designation.--Section 104 of the African Growth and
Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3703) is amended, in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``is authorized to'' and inserting
``shall''.
(b) Modification of Requirements.--Section 104 of the African
Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3703) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by amending subparagraph (E) to read
as follows:
``(E) the minimum standards for the elimination of
corruption described in section 5404(a) of the
Combating Global Corruption Act (subtitle A of title
LIV of Public Law 118-31);'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon; and
(3) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
``(3) does not engage in gross violations of
internationally recognized human rights, including as reflected
in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices of the
Department of State, and cooperates in international efforts to
eliminate human rights violations, including by not having
been--
``(A) determined to be engaged in a pattern of
gross violations of internationally recognized human
rights for purposes of--
``(i) section 701 of the International
Financial Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 262d); or
``(ii) section 116 or 502B of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n and
2304);
``(B) listed under subparagraph (C) of section
110(b)(1) of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of
2000 (22 U.S.C. 7107(b)(1)) (commonly referred to as
`tier 3') in the most recent report on trafficking in
persons required under that section (commonly referred
to as the `Trafficking in Persons Report');
``(C) identified on the list published by the
Secretary of State pursuant to section 404(b) of the
Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008 (22 U.S.C. 2370c-
1(b)) as a country that recruits and uses child
soldiers; or
``(D) designated as a country of particular concern
for religious freedom under section 402(b)(1)(A)(ii) of
the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22
U.S.C. 6442(b)(1)(A)(ii));
``(4) does not provide support for acts of international
terrorism and cooperates in international efforts to eliminate
terrorist activities, including by not having been determined
by the Secretary of State to have repeatedly provided support
for acts of international terrorism for purposes of--
``(A) section 1754(c)(1)(A)(i) of the Export
Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C.
4813(c)(1)(A)(i));
``(B) section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371);
``(C) section 40(d) of the Arms Export Control Act
(22 U.S.C. 2780(d)); or
``(D) any other provision of law; and
``(5) is not subject to restrictions on the provision of
assistance to a country the duly elected head of government of
which is deposed by a coup d'etat or decree under an Act making
appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations,
and related programs.''.
SEC. 7. REPORT ON ENFORCEMENT OF PROHIBITION ON IMPORTATION OF GOODS
MADE WITH FORCED LABOR.
Section 112 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C.
3721) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections
(g) and (h); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following:
``(f) Report Required.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of the AGOA Extension and Enhancement Act of
2024, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report on procedures in place to
ensure that any country the textile and apparel articles of
which are receiving preferential treatment under this section
is not exporting those articles to the United States in
violation of--
``(A) section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19
U.S.C. 1307); or
``(B) section 3 of the Act entitled `An Act to
ensure that goods made with forced labor in the
Xinjiang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of
China do not enter the United States market, and for
other purposes', approved December 23, 2021 (Public Law
117-78; 22 U.S.C. 6901 note) (commonly referred to as
the `Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act').
``(2) Appropriate congressional committees defined.--In
this subsection, the term `appropriate congressional
committees' means--
``(A) the Committee on Ways and Means and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
``(B) the Committee on Finance and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate.''.
SEC. 8. REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION AND POTENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 106 of the African Growth and Opportunity
Act (19 U.S.C. 3705) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 106. REPORTS.
``(a) Implementation Report.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than December 31, 2024, and
biennially thereafter, the President shall submit to Congress a
report on the trade and investment relationship between the
United States and sub-Saharan African countries and on the
implementation of this Act and section 506A of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466a).
``(2) Matters to be included.--The report required by
paragraph (1) shall include the following:
``(A) A description of the status of trade and
investment between the United States and sub-Saharan
Africa, including information on leading exports to the
United States from sub-Saharan African countries.
``(B) Any changes in eligibility of sub-Saharan
African countries during the period covered by the
report.
``(C) A detailed analysis of whether each
beneficiary sub-Saharan African country is continuing
to meet the eligibility requirements set forth in
section 104 and the eligibility criteria set forth in
section 502 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2462).
``(D) A description of the status of regional
integration efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.
``(E) A summary of United States trade capacity
building efforts.
``(F) Any other initiatives related to enhancing
the trade and investment relationship between the
United States and sub-Saharan African countries.
``(b) Potential Trade Agreements Report.--Not later than December
31, 2024, and every 4 years thereafter, the United States Trade
Representative shall submit to Congress a report that--
``(1) identifies sub-Saharan African countries that have a
expressed an interest in entering into a free trade agreement
with the United States;
``(2) evaluates the viability and progress of such sub-
Saharan African countries and other sub-Saharan African
countries toward entering into a free trade agreement with the
United States; and
``(3) describes a plan for negotiating and concluding such
agreements, which includes the elements described in
subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section 116(b)(2).
``(c) Termination.--The reporting requirements of this section
shall cease to have any force or effect after September 30, 2041.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the African
Growth and Opportunity Act is amended by striking the item relating to
section 106 and inserting the following:
``Sec. 106. Reports.''.
(c) Conforming Repeal.--Section 110 of the AGOA Extension and
Enhancement Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-27; 19 U.S.C. 3705 note) is
repealed.
SEC. 9. UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION REPORT ON
EXPANDING ARTICLES COVERED BY AFRICAN GROWTH AND
OPPORTUNITY ACT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the United States International Trade Commission
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
evaluating options for expanding the range of articles eligible for
duty-free treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19
U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) and section 506A of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2466a).
(b) Hearing.--The Commission shall hold a hearing to solicit public
input on what articles described in subsection (a) should be considered
in the report required by that subsection.
(c) Elements.--In preparing the report required by subsection (a),
the Commission shall consider--
(1) the extent to which duty-free treatment of articles
described in that subsection could expand exportation of those
articles to the United States;
(2) the economic effects of expanded exportation of those
articles on the economy of the country exporting the articles;
and
(3) the economic effects of expanded imports of those
articles on the economy of the United States.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees Defined.--In this section,
the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate.
SEC. 10. AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT FORUM AND OTHER UPDATES.
Section 105 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C.
3704) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(1), in the first sentence, by
striking ``host the first annual meeting'' and inserting ``host
a meeting on or before September 30 of each year, in the United
States or in Sub-Saharan Africa,'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``USIS''
and inserting ``Department of Commerce''; and
(B) by striking ``United States Information
Service'' and inserting ``Department of Commerce''; and
(3) by striking subsection (e).
SEC. 11. UPDATING PROTECTIONS AGAINST TRANSSHIPMENT OF CERTAIN TEXTILES
AND APPAREL ARTICLES.
(a) Repeal of Outdated Textile Visa Requirements.--The African
Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 112 (19 U.S.C. 3721), as amended by section
7--
(A) by striking subsection (d); and
(B) by redesignating subsections (e), (f), (g), and
(h) as subsections (d), (e), (f), and (g) respectively;
and
(2) in section 113 (19 U.S.C. 3722)--
(A) in subsection (a)(1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``an
effective visa system, domestic laws,'' and
inserting ``domestic laws'';
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking the
semicolon and inserting ``; and'';
(iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``;
and'' and inserting a period; and
(iv) by striking subparagraph (F);
(B) in subsection (b)(5), by striking ``the
effectiveness of the visa systems and''; and
(C) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking ``visa
systems, legislation,'' and inserting ``legislation''.
(b) Modification of Production Verification Team Visits.--Section
113(c)(2) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C.
3722(c)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
``(2) send production verification teams to beneficiary
sub-Saharan African countries as necessary to verify compliance
with this section; and''.
SEC. 12. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Sub-Saharan Africa Defined.--Section 107 of the African Growth
and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3706) is amended--
(1) inserting after ``State of Eritrea (Eritrea).'' the
following:
``Kingdom of Eswatini (Eswatini).'';
(2) by striking ``Ethiopia'' and inserting ``Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ethiopia)'';
(3) by striking ``Somalia'' and inserting ``Federal
Republic of Somalia (Somalia)''; and
(4) by striking ``Kingdom of Swaziland (Swaziland).''.
(b) Name of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.--The African Growth
and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 112(d) (19 U.S.C. 3721(d)), in the flush
text, by striking ``The Customs Service'' and inserting ``U.S.
Customs and Border Protection''; and
(2) in section 113 (19 U.S.C. 3722)--
(A) in subsection (a)(1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``United States Customs Service'' and inserting
``U.S. Customs and Border Protection''; and
(ii) by striking ``the United States
Customs Service'' each place it appears and
inserting ``U.S. Customs and Border
Protection'';
(B) in subsection (b)(5), by striking ``The Customs
Service shall monitor and the Commissioner of Customs''
and inserting ``U.S. Customs and Border Protection
shall monitor and the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection''; and
(C) in subsection (c)--
(i) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Customs Service'' and inserting ``U.S.
Customs and Border Protection''; and
(ii) by striking ``The Customs Service''
and inserting ``U.S. Customs and Border
Protection''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
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