II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2952 

To extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 27 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 2023 

Mr. KENNEDY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Finance 

A BILL 

To extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘AGOA Extension Act 

5 of 2023’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find8 ings: 

9 (1) Since its enactment in 2000, the African 

10 Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3701 et 

11 seq.) has been the centerpiece of trade relations be12 tween the United States and sub-Saharan Africa 


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1 and has enhanced trade, investment, job creation, 

2 and democratic institutions throughout Africa. 

3 (2) Trade and investment, as facilitated by the 

4 African Growth and Opportunity Act, promote eco5 nomic growth, development, poverty reduction, de6 mocracy, the rule of law, and stability in sub-Saha7 ran Africa. 

8 (3) Since its initial enactment, the trade pref9 erence program under the African Growth and Op10 portunity Act, which has bipartisan support, has 

11 played an integral role in creating economic oppor12 tunity in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as supporting 

13 nearly 120,000 jobs in the United States. 

14 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con15 gress that— 

16 (1) it is in the interest of the United States to 

17 engage and compete in emerging markets in sub-Sa18 haran African countries, to boost trade and invest19 ment between the United States and sub-Saharan 

20 African countries, and to renew the African Growth 

21 and Opportunity Act; 

22 (2) the long-term economic security of the 

23 United States is enhanced by strong economic and 

24 political ties with the fastest-growing economies in 

25 the world, many of which are in sub-Saharan Africa; 


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1 (3) it is a goal of the United States to further 

2 integrate sub-Saharan African countries into the 

3 global economy, stimulate economic development in 

4 Africa, and diversify sources of growth in sub-Saha5 ran Africa; 

6 (4) the elimination of barriers to trade and in7 vestment in sub-Saharan Africa, including high tar8 iffs, forced localization requirements, restrictions on 

9 investment, and customs barriers, will create oppor10 tunities for workers, businesses, farmers, and ranch11 ers in the United States and sub-Saharan African 

12 countries; and 

13 (5) extending the African Growth and Oppor14 tunity Act for 20 years provides stability for all par15 ties involved and creates more time before Congress 

16 must again address its expiration. 

17 SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPOR18 TUNITY ACT. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 506B of the Trade Act 

20 of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466b) is amended— 

21 (1) by striking ‘‘section 506A(c)’’ and inserting 

22 ‘‘section 506A(e)’’; and 

23 (2) by striking ‘‘September 30, 2025’’ and in24 serting ‘‘September 30, 2045’’. 

25 (b) AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 112(g) of the Afri2 can Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 

3 3721(g)) is amended by striking ‘‘September 30, 

4 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2045’’. 

5 (2) EXTENSION OF REGIONAL APPAREL ARTI6 CLE PROGRAM.—Section 112(b)(3)(A) of the African 

7 Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 

8 3721(b)(3)(A)) is amended— 

9 (A) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘21 suc10 ceeding’’ and inserting ‘‘41 succeeding’’; and 

11 (B) in clause (ii)(II), by striking ‘‘Sep12 tember 30, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 

13 2045’’. 

14 (3) EXTENSION OF THIRD-COUNTRY FABRIC

15 PROGRAM.—Section 112(c)(1) of the African Growth 

16 and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(c)(1)) is 

17 amended— 

18 (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 

19 ‘‘SEPTEMBER 30, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘SEP20 TEMBER 30, 2045’’; 

21 (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Sep22 tember 30, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘September 30, 

23 2045’’; and 


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1 (C) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking 

2 ‘‘September 30, 2025’’ and inserting ‘‘Sep3 tember 30, 2045’’. 

Æ 


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