Washington, D.C. — September 1, 2026 — The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has welcomed the passage of a two-year extension of the Haiti Economic Lift Program and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by the U.S. House of Representatives, backed by strong bipartisan support. The measure passed by a decisive vote of 370 to 48 as part of a Continuing Resolution (CR) designed to temporarily fund the government. The extension secures both programs, which had been set to expire at the close of this year, through December 31, 2028, once the CR is signed into law.
A Quarter-Century of Trade Progress Under AGOA
For 25 years, the African Growth and Opportunity Act has played an integral role in shaping U.S. trade relationships across the African continent. By granting eligible Sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to U.S. markets, AGOA has strengthened American exports in textiles and agriculture while cultivating a broad range of commercial partnerships between the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa. The AGOA extension now ensures these relationships continue to develop without interruption.
Similarly, over more than 15 years, the Haiti HOPE/HELP programs have provided meaningful support to both U.S. and Haitian textile industries. By extending duty-free access for apparel and textile products from Haiti into the United States, the Haiti HOPE/HELP framework has helped build durable business ties between the two neighboring nations, underpinning a trade corridor that benefits workers and businesses on both sides.
Industry Response to the Vote
Beth Hughes, AAFA’s Vice President of Trade and Customs Policy, expressed the association’s appreciation for the legislative action. “We are grateful for the bipartisan, bicameral support these vital programs have received and look forward to President Trump signing the two-year extension into law,” she stated. “Our industry remains firmly committed to these programs and encourages Congress to use this extension as an opportunity to modernize AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP and build toward a 15-year renewal. Long-term renewal continues to be the goal in order to encourage long-term investment, deepen trade partnerships, and strengthen industries at home and throughout the region.”
AAFA’s Ongoing Advocacy for Long-Term Renewal
The AAFA has been a consistent advocate for the renewal of both AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP programs, engaging Congress and the Administration on multiple fronts. In July, the association provided formal testimony before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative specifically regarding AGOA’s renewal, reinforcing its commitment to securing stable, long-term apparel trade policy frameworks.
Both AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP have historically enjoyed strong bipartisan support over decades of legislative activity. The AAFA noted that a long-term renewal of these programs is essential to providing the certainty that U.S. companies need to plan investments and to offering stability for workforces across Sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti. The current two-year AGOA extension, while welcomed, is seen by the association as a bridge toward the broader, more enduring legislative commitment it continues to advocate for.
With duty-free trade access preserved through end of 2028 under the AGOA extension and the Haiti HOPE/HELP framework, both domestic and international stakeholders in the textile and apparel sectors gain a period of continued operational certainty as longer-term legislative discussions progress.
