United States reduces quota for free import of apparel under AGOA

The US Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has announced the fiscal year 2024 (Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024) limits on duty- and quota-free imports of apparel articles assembled from regional and third-country fabric under the African Growth and Opportunity Act.

It has been decided that apparel articles entered more than these quantities will be subject to otherwise applicable tariffs.

AGOA provides eligible African countries with duty-free access to the U.

S. market for a wide range of products. This means that certain goods produced in these countries can be imported into the United States without being subject to tariffs.

AGOA has played a significant role in fostering economic ties between the United States and sub-Saharan African countries. It has been instrumental in increasing trade and investment between the two regions, and it continues to be an important tool for promoting economic development and cooperation. However, its effectiveness and impact can vary from country to country based on a variety of factors, including the readiness and capacity of individual nations to take advantage of the opportunities it offers.

For apparel articles wholly assembled in one or more AGOA beneficiary countries from fabric formed in one or more beneficiary countries from yarn originating in the U.

S. or one or more beneficiary countries, the FY 2024 limit is 1,830,796,723 square meters equivalent (down 22.2 percent from FY 2023).

Of this amount, 915,398,361 SME (also down 22.

2 percent) is available for apparel articles imported under the AGOA third-country fabric provision, which provides preferential treatment for apparel articles assembled in one or more lesser-developed beneficiary countries regardless of the country of origin of the fabric used.