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SR 37

A resolution to urge the President of the United States and the United States Congress to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act and expand the program to include other sub-Saharan African countries.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rosemary Bayer and 4 co-sponsors

Michigan urges federal renewal and expansion of African trade preference program to include more sub-Saharan countries, strengthening economic partnerships and market access.

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Bill Summary · SR 37

Legislative bill overview

SR 37 is a non-binding resolution passed by the Michigan State Senate urging the U.S. President and Congress to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and expand its coverage to include additional sub-Saharan African countries. The resolution does not create law or allocate funds but represents the state legislature's formal recommendation on federal trade policy.

Why is this important

AGOA, set to expire in 2025, provides duty-free market access for eligible African nations to U.S. markets, affecting roughly $20 billion in annual trade. Renewal and expansion could strengthen economic relationships with African partners, potentially increasing U.S. exports and investment opportunities while supporting African economic development—issues relevant to Michigan's manufacturing and trade sectors.

Potential points of contention

  • Expansion scope uncertainty: The resolution doesn't specify which additional countries should be included, leaving vague what the actual policy impact would be
  • Conditionality debate: AGOA historically includes labor, environmental, and governance requirements; expanding eligibility criteria could be contentious among both supporters and critics
  • Competing trade priorities: The resolution competes for attention with other U.S. trade policy goals and may face resistance from those prioritizing different regional relationships

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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