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Bill

HR 6500

AGOA Extension Act

119th Congress Introduced by Adrian Smith and 1 co-sponsor

Extends AGOA duty-free treatment and related apparel/third-country fabric rules for eligible sub-Saharan African countries through December 31, 2028, including retroactive relief f

Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S4448)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 6500

AGOA Extension Act — Summary

Purpose and intent

  • The bill, HR 6500, titled the AGOA Extension Act, seeks to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) benefits for sub-Saharan African countries through December 31, 2028.
  • It also extends related third-country fabric and apparel rules and provides retroactive duty-free treatment for certain imports that would have qualified under AGOA if the program had not lapsed on September 30, 2025.
  • Additionally, the bill extends customs user fees through December 31, 2031.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Extension of AGOA and related apparel/origins rules (through 2028)

    • Extends AGOA’s duty-free treatment for eligible goods from beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries through December 31, 2028.
    • Extends the AGOA-specific rules:
      • Third-country fabric program
      • Regional apparel program
    • Adjustments to program timelines within AGOA:
      • Extends eligibility and operative dates to December 31, 2028 for the third-country fabric and regional apparel provisions.

  2. Retroactive application for missed entries (Sept 30, 2025 lapse)

    • For entries that would have been AGOA-eligible if the program had not lapsed, the bill allows liquidations or reliquidations as if the entry occurred on the enactment date.
    • Creates a process for traders to file liquidation/reliquidation requests with U.S. Customs and Border Protection within 180 days of enactment, with the U.S. Government liable for any amounts owed, paid within 90 days after liquidation, and without interest.
    • Defines “covered article,” “entry,” and other terms for retroactive treatment.

  3. Extension of customs user fees (through 2031)

    • Extends the period during which certain customs user fees can be collected:
      • From September 30, 2031 to December 31, 2031 for various fees.
      • Specifically extends the merchandise processing fee rate applicable date to December 31, 2031.

  4. Effective date

    • The act would take effect upon enactment.

Who/what would be affected

  • Sub-Saharan African beneficiary countries designated under AGOA (and former beneficiaries under AGOA rules) could continue to receive duty-free treatment for eligible textile and apparel products.
  • Textile and apparel manufacturers and exporters in AGOA-eligible countries, as well as U.S. importers, would see extended duty-free access and continued regional/third-country fabric preferences.
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Treasury would administer retroactive adjustments for entries that would have qualified under AGOA if not for the lapse, and collect/adjust customs user fees accordingly.
  • Kenya and Mauritius-specific quotas on textile and apparel imports would be addressed via elimination of certain quotas once visa systems are implemented (per current AGOA framework), preserving alignment with existing AGOA textile rules.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Retains retroactive application window limited to entries between September 30, 2025 and enactment, with liquidation/reliquidation requests due within 180 days post-enactment.
  • The bill’s extension period runs through December 31, 2028, with related program components (regional apparel, third-country fabrics) aligned to that end date.
  • Customs user fees extension pushes related fee authority to December 31, 2031, with corresponding rate adjustments as specified.
  • House Ways and Means report indicates committee action occurred in December 2025 with an amended, favorable recommendation to pass, and the bill would become law upon enactment.

Summary assessment

  • The AGOA Extension Act is a targeted reauthorization and retrofit of AGOA provisions, aimed at preserving duty-free trade benefits for eligible African countries through 2028, addressing retroactive entries from the lapse period, and extending related customs fee authorities. It maintains the status quo for policy goals while providing a clear extension timeline and a mechanism to rectify missed opportunities during the lapse.

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

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