AAFA Urges Congress to Renew AGOA and Haiti Trade Programs

The American Apparel and Footwear Association is urging the United States Congress to immediately renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Haiti HOPE/HELP programs before they expire on September 30, 2025. These initiatives provide duty-free U.S. market access for over 1,800 products from 32 sub-Saharan African nations and facilitate duty-free entry for Haitian textiles and apparel.

Association leadership warns that congressional inaction has already stymied investment opportunities and risks increasing trade chaos. The group asserts that these programs support 3.6 million American workers while sustaining employment in Haiti and sub-Saharan Africa. They further argue that failure to extend these bipartisan priorities could undermine strategic U.S. influence in these regions, potentially ceding it to China.

The association previously provided testimony regarding the renewal of AGOA to the United States Trade Representative in July. AAFA officials maintain that the programs are cost-effective solutions that safeguard the U.S. economy and ensure the country remains influential in key global regions.