A coalition of U.S. trade organizations, including the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), is advocating for the revival of expired trade preference programs for sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti.
In a letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, these organizations requested swift passage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Extension Act (HR 6500) and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Extension Act (HR 6504).
“On behalf of the undersigned organizations—representing a diverse spectrum of the textile, apparel, footwear, and retail sectors, along with the broader business community—we urge the House to expedite the retroactive reauthorization of vital U.S. trade preference programs with sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti,” the organizations stated in their correspondence.
The letter received support from notable groups like the AAFA, Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America, National Retail Federation, Outdoor Industry Association, Retail Industry Leaders Association, and the U.S. Fashion Industry Association (USFIA).
According to the organizations, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced both bills last month, with substantial bipartisan support.
If enacted, the proposed measures would retroactively restore AGOA and the Haiti HOPE/HELP programs for the past three years.
Draft legislation on the committee’s website indicates that the AGOA Extension Act would establish a new expiration date of December 31, 2028, while also retroactively addressing tariff issues that arose after the program ended. Established in 2000, AGOA expired on September 30, 2025, after 25 years.
Lawmakers are also considering extensions for the Haitian programs: the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act.
The HELP Extension Act of 2025 was introduced in February 2025. If passed, it would provide continued duty-free access for certain Haitian apparel imports until fiscal year 2035.
Industry advocates note that the renewal of trade preference programs is essential for supporting U.S. cotton and textile exports, offering alternatives to sourcing from China while providing jobs for approximately 3.6 million workers in the United States.
