This bill extends the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a U.S. trade program benefiting sub-Saharan African countries, by 12 years through September 2037. The legislation strengthens oversight and accountability by requiring biennial reviews of beneficiary countries' compliance with eligibility requirements such as respecting human rights, combating corruption, and preventing terrorism. Countries classified as high-income for five consecutive years will be automatically graduated from the program, though the President can extend their status for up to five additional years to negotiate trade agreements. The bill also requires African beneficiary countries to develop biennial utilization strategies to maximize their use of AGOA benefits, with the U.S. Agency for International Development providing technical assistance. Additionally, it mandates reports on enforcement against forced labor imports, expands congressional oversight through expanded briefing requirements, and directs the International Trade Commission to evaluate expanding the range of products eligible for duty-free treatment under the program.
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