The “AGOA Renewal and Improvement Act of 2024” aims to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) until September 30, 2041, and includes several enhancements and updates to the program. Key provisions include extending duty-free access for eligible countries, supporting regional supply chains in Africa, and modifying eligibility requirements to ensure compliance with international human rights standards. The bill also introduces mandatory biennial reviews to monitor the progress of beneficiary countries and includes measures to enforce prohibitions on the importation of goods made with forced labor.
Additionally, the act encourages beneficiary countries to develop and publish biennial AGOA utilization strategies to better leverage the benefits of the program, and provides for increased trade capacity building assistance. The United States International Trade Commission is tasked with evaluating options to expand the range of articles eligible for duty-free treatment under AGOA, while the annual AGOA forum will continue to facilitate dialogue between the U.S. and sub-Saharan African countries. The bill also includes technical corrections and updates to terminology, such as the renaming of “Swaziland” to “Eswatini” and updating references to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.