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[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4103 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.4103

                       One Hundred Eighth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America

                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
           the twentieth day of January, two thousand and four

                                 An Act

 
  To extend and modify the trade benefits under the African Growth and 
                            Opportunity Act.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
        (1) The African Growth and Opportunity Act (in this section and 
    section 3 referred to as ``the Act'') has helped to spur economic 
    growth and bolster economic reforms in the countries of sub-Saharan 
    Africa and has fostered stronger economic ties between the 
    countries of sub-Saharan Africa and the United States; as a result, 
    exports from the United States to sub-Saharan Africa reached record 
    levels after the enactment of the Act, while exports from sub-
    Saharan Africa to the United States have increased considerably.
        (2) The Act's eligibility requirements have reinforced 
    democratic values and the rule of law, and have strengthened 
    adherence to internationally recognized worker rights in eligible 
    sub-Saharan African countries.
        (3) The Act has helped to bring about substantial increases in 
    foreign investment in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the textile 
    and apparel sectors, where tens of thousands of new jobs have been 
    created.
        (4) As a result of the Agreement on Textiles and Apparel of the 
    World Trade Organization, under which quotas maintained by WTO 
    member countries on textile and apparel products end on January 1, 
    2005, sub-Saharan Africa's textile and apparel industry will be 
    severely challenged by countries whose industries are more 
    developed and have greater capacity, economies of scale, and better 
    infrastructure.
        (5) The underdeveloped physical and financial infrastructure in 
    sub-Saharan Africa continues to discourage investment in the 
    region.
        (6) Regional integration establishes a foundation on which sub-
    Saharan African countries can coordinate and pursue policies 
    grounded in African interests and history to achieve sustainable 
    development.
        (7) Expanded trade because of the Act has improved fundamental 
    economic conditions within sub-Saharan Africa. The Act has helped 
    to create jobs in the poorest region of the world, and most sub-
    Saharan African countries have sought to take advantage of the 
    opportunities provided by the Act.
        (8) Agricultural biotechnology holds promise for helping solve 
    global food security and human health crises in Africa and, 
    according to recent studies, has made contributions to the 
    protection of the environment by reducing the application of 
    pesticides, reducing soil erosion, and creating an environment more 
    hospitable to wildlife.
        (9) (A) One of the greatest challenges facing African countries 
    continues to be the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has infected as many 
    as one out of every four people in some countries, creating 
    tremendous social, political, and economic costs. African countries 
    need continued United States financial and technical assistance to 
    combat this epidemic.
        (B) More awareness and involvement by governments are 
    necessary. Countries like Uganda, recognizing the threat of HIV/
    AIDS, have boldly attacked it through a combination of education, 
    public awareness, enhanced medical infrastructure and resources, 
    and greater access to medical treatment. An effective HIV/AIDS 
    prevention and treatment strategy involves all of these steps.
        (10) African countries continue to need trade capacity 
    assistance to establish viable economic capacity, a well-grounded 
    rule of law, and efficient government practices.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

    The Congress supports--
        (1) a continued commitment to increase trade between the United 
    States and sub-Saharan Africa and increase investment in sub-
    Saharan Africa to the benefit of workers, businesses, and farmers 
    in the United States and in sub-Saharan Africa, including by 
    developing innovative approaches to encourage development and 
    investment in sub-Saharan Africa;
        (2) a reduction of tariff and nontariff barriers and other 
    obstacles to trade between the countries of sub-Saharan Africa and 
    the United States, with particular emphasis on reducing barriers to 
    trade in emerging sectors of the economy that have the greatest 
    potential for development;
        (3) development of sub-Saharan Africa's physical and financial 
    infrastructure;
        (4) international efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, 
    tuberculosis, other infectious diseases, and serious public health 
    problems;
        (5) many of the aims of the New Partnership for African 
    Development (NEPAD), which include--
            (A) reducing poverty and increasing economic growth;
            (B) promoting peace, democracy, security, and human rights;
            (C) promoting African integration by deepening linkages 
        between African countries and by accelerating Africa's economic 
        and political integration into the rest of the world;
            (D) attracting investment, debt relief, and development 
        assistance;
            (E) promoting trade and economic diversification;
            (F) broadening global market access for United States and 
        African exports;
            (G) improving transparency, good governance, and political 
        accountability;
            (H) expanding access to social services, education, and 
        health services with a high priority given to addressing HIV/
        AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, other infectious diseases, and 
        other public health problems;
            (I) promoting the role of women in social and economic 
        development by reinforcing education and training and by 
        assuring their participation in political and economic arenas; 
        and
            (J) building the capacity of governments in sub-Saharan 
        Africa to set and enforce a legal framework, as well as to 
        enforce the rule of law;
        (6) negotiation of reciprocal trade agreements between the 
    United States and sub-Saharan African countries, with the overall 
    goal of expanding trade across all of sub-Saharan Africa;
        (7) the President seeking to negotiate, with interested 
    eligible sub-Saharan African countries, bilateral trade agreements 
    that provide investment opportunities, in accordance with section 
    2102(b)(3) of the Trade Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3802(b)(3));
        (8) efforts by the President to negotiate with the member 
    countries of the Southern African Customs Union in order to provide 
    the opportunity to deepen and make permanent the benefits of the 
    Act while giving the United States access to the markets of these 
    African countries for United States goods and services, by reducing 
    tariffs and non-tariff barriers, strengthening intellectual 
    property protection, improving transparency, establishing general 
    dispute settlement mechanisms, and investor-state and state-to-
    state dispute settlement mechanisms in investment;
        (9) a comprehensive and ambitious trade agreement with the 
    Southern African Customs Union, covering all products and sectors, 
    in order to mature the economic relationship between sub-Saharan 
    African countries and the United States and because such an 
    agreement would deepen United States economic and political ties to 
    the region, lend momentum to United States development efforts, 
    encourage greater United States investment, and promote regional 
    integration and economic growth;
        (10) regional integration among sub-Saharan African countries 
    and business partnerships between United States and African firms; 
    and
        (11) economic diversification in sub-Saharan African countries 
    and expansion of trade beyond textiles and apparel.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON RECIPROCITY AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC 
              INTEGRATION.

    It is the sense of the Congress that--
        (1) the preferential market access opportunities for eligible 
    sub-Saharan African countries will be complemented and enhanced if 
    those countries are implementing actively and fully, consistent 
    with any remaining applicable phase-in periods, their obligations 
    under the World Trade Organization, including obligations under the 
    Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property, the 
    Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary 
    Measures, and the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures, 
    as well as the other agreements described in section 101(d) of the 
    Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d));
        (2) eligible sub-Saharan African countries should participate 
    in and support mutual trade liberalization in ongoing negotiations 
    under the auspices of the World Trade Organization, including by 
    making reciprocal commitments with respect to improving market 
    access for industrial and agricultural goods, and for services, 
    recognizing that such commitments may need to reflect special and 
    differential treatment for developing countries;
        (3) some of the most pernicious trade barriers against exports 
    by developing countries are the trade barriers maintained by other 
    developing countries; therefore, eligible sub-Saharan African 
    countries will benefit from the reduction of trade barriers in 
    other developing countries, especially in developing countries that 
    represent some of the greatest potential markets for African goods 
    and services; and
        (4) all countries should make sanitary and phytosanitary 
    decisions on the basis of sound science.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERPRETATION OF TEXTILE AND APPAREL 
              PROVISIONS OF AGOA.

    It is the sense of the Congress that the executive branch, 
particularly the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements 
(CITA), the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection of the Department 
of Homeland Security, and the Department of Commerce, should interpret, 
implement, and enforce the provisions of section 112 of the African 
Growth and Opportunity Act, relating to preferential treatment of 
textile and apparel articles, broadly in order to expand trade by 
maximizing opportunities for imports of such articles from eligible 
sub-Saharan African countries.

SEC. 6. DEFINITION.

    In this Act, the term ``eligible sub-Saharan African country'' 
means an eligible sub-Saharan African country under the African Growth 
and Opportunity Act.

SEC. 7. EXTENSION OF AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT.

    (a) Generalized System of Preferences.--
        (1) Extension of program.--Section 506B of the Trade Act of 
    1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466b) is amended by striking ``2008'' and 
    inserting ``2015''.
        (2) Inputs from former beneficiary countries.--Section 506A of 
    the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466a) is amended--
            (A) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by inserting ``or former 
        beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries'' after 
        ``countries''; and
            (B) in subsection (c)--
                (i) by striking ``title, the terms'' and inserting 
            ``title--
        ``(1) the terms''; and
                (ii) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(2) the term `former beneficiary sub-Saharan African country' 
    means a country that, after being designated as a beneficiary sub-
    Saharan African country under the African Growth and Opportunity 
    Act, ceased to be designated as such a country by reason of its 
    entering into a free trade agreement with the United States.''.
    (b) Apparel Articles.--(1) Section 112(b)(1) of the African Growth 
and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(1)) is amended by striking 
``(including'' and inserting ``or both (including''.
    (2) Section 112(b)(3) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 
U.S.C. 3721 (b)(3)) is amended--
        (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
            (i) by striking ``either in the United States or one or 
        more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``in the United States or one or more 
        beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries or former beneficiary 
        sub-Saharan African countries, or both''; and
            (ii) by striking ``subject to the following:'' and 
        inserting ``whether or not the apparel articles are also made 
        from any of the fabrics, fabric components formed, or 
        components knit-to-shape described in paragraph (1) or (2) 
        (unless the apparel articles are made exclusively from any of 
        the fabrics, fabric components formed, or components knit-to-
        shape described in paragraph (1) or (2)), subject to the 
        following:''; and
        (B) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting the 
    following:
            ``(A) Limitations on benefits.--
                ``(i) In general.--Preferential treatment under this 
            paragraph shall be extended in the 1-year period beginning 
            October 1, 2003, and in each of the 11 succeeding 1-year 
            periods, to imports of apparel articles in an amount not to 
            exceed the applicable percentage of the aggregate square 
            meter equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the 
            United States in the preceding 12-month period for which 
            data are available.
                ``(ii) Applicable percentage.--For purposes of this 
            subparagraph, the term `applicable percentage' means--

                    ``(I) 4.747 percent for the 1-year period beginning 
                October 1, 2003, increased in each of the 5 succeeding 
                1-year periods by equal increments, so that for the 1-
                year period beginning October 1, 2007, the applicable 
                percentage does not exceed 7 percent; and
                    ``(II) for each succeeding 1-year period until 
                September 30, 2015, not to exceed 7 percent.

            ``(B) Special rule for lesser developed countries.--
                ``(i) In general.--Preferential treatment under this 
            paragraph shall be extended though September 30, 2007, for 
            apparel articles wholly assembled, or knit-to-shape and 
            wholly assembled, or both, in one or more lesser developed 
            beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, regardless of 
            the country of origin of the fabric or the yarn used to 
            make such articles, in an amount not to exceed the 
            applicable percentage of the aggregate square meter 
            equivalents of all apparel articles imported into the 
            United States in the preceding 12-month period for which 
            data are available.
                ``(ii) Applicable percentage.--For purposes of the 
            subparagraph, the term `applicable percentage' means--

                    ``(I) 2.3571 percent for the 1-year period 
                beginning October 1, 2003;
                    ``(II) 2.6428 percent for the 1-year period 
                beginning October 1, 2004;
                    ``(III) 2.9285 percent for the 1-year period 
                beginning October 1, 2005; and
                    ``(IV) 1.6071 percent for the 1-year period 
                beginning October 1, 2006.

                ``(iii) Lesser developed beneficiary sub-saharan 
            african country.--For purposes of this subparagraph, the 
            term `lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
            country' means--

                    ``(I) a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country 
                that had a per capita gross national product of less 
                than $1,500 in 1998, as measured by the International 
                Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
                    ``(II) Botswana; and
                    ``(III) Namibia.''.

    (3) Section 112(b)(5)(A) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
(19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(5)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(A) In general.--Apparel articles that are both cut (or 
        knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more 
        beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, to the extent that 
        apparel articles of such fabrics or yarns would be eligible for 
        preferential treatment, without regard to the source of the 
        fabrics or yarns, under Annex 401 to the NAFTA.''.
    (c) Handloomed, Handmade, Folklore Articles and Ethnic Printed 
Fabrics.--Section 112(b)(6) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act 
(19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(6)) is amended to read as follows:
        ``(6) Handloomed, handmade, folklore articles and ethnic 
    printed fabrics.--
            ``(A) In general.--A handloomed, handmade, folklore article 
        or an ethnic printed fabric of a beneficiary sub-Saharan 
        African country or countries that is certified as such by the 
        competent authority of such beneficiary country or countries. 
        For purposes of this section, the President, after consultation 
        with the beneficiary sub-Saharan African country or countries 
        concerned, shall determine which, if any, particular textile 
        and apparel goods of the country (or countries) shall be 
        treated as being handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles or 
        an ethic printed fabric.
            ``(B) Requirements for ethnic printed fabric.--Ethnic 
        printed fabrics qualified under this paragraph are--
                ``(i) fabrics containing a selvedge on both edges, 
            having a width of less than 50 inches, classifiable under 
            subheading 5208.52.30 or 5208.52.40 of the Harmonized 
            Tariff Schedule of the United States;
                ``(ii) of the type that contains designs, symbols, and 
            other characteristics of African prints--

                    ``(I) normally produced for and sold on the 
                indigenous African market; and
                    ``(II) normally sold in Africa by the piece as 
                opposed to being tailoredinto garments before being 
sold in indigenous African markets;
                ``(iii) printed, including waxed, in one or more 
            eligible beneficiary sub-Saharan countries; and
                ``(iv) fabrics formed in the United States, from yarns 
            formed in the United States, or from fabric formed in one 
            or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African country from yarn 
            originating in either the United States or one or more 
            beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries.''.
    (d) Regional and U.S. Sources.--Section 112(b)(7) of the African 
Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(7)) is amended by 
inserting ``or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries'' after 
``and one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries'' each 
place it appears.
    (e) Special Rules.--
        (1) Certain components.--Section 112(d) of the African Growth 
    and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(d)) is amended by adding at the 
    end the following:
        ``(3) Certain components.--An article otherwise eligible for 
    preferential treatment under this section will not be ineligible 
    for such treatment because the article contains--
            ``(A) any collars or cuffs (cut or knit-to-shape),
            ``(B) drawstrings,
            ``(C) shoulder pads or other padding,
            ``(D) waistbands,
            ``(E) belt attached to the article,
            ``(F) straps containing elastic, or
            ``(G) elbow patches,
    that do not meet the requirements set forth in subsection (b), 
    regardless of the country of origin of the item referred to in the 
    applicable subparagraph of this paragraph.''.
        (2) De minimis rule.--Section 112(d)(2) of the African Growth 
    and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(d)(2)) is amended--
            (A) by inserting ``or former beneficiary sub-Saharan 
        African countries'' after ``countries''; and
            (B) by striking ``7 percent'' and inserting ``10 percent''.
    (f) Definitions.--Section 112(e) of the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(e)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
        ``(4) Former sub-saharan african country.--The term `former 
    sub-Saharan African country' means a country that, after being 
    designated as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under this 
    Act, ceased to be designated as such a beneficiary sub-Saharan 
    country by reason of its entering into a free trade agreement with 
    the United States.''.

SEC. 8. ENTRIES OF CERTAIN APPAREL ARTICLES PURSUANT TO THE AFRICAN 
              GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of 
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1514) or any other provision of law, the Secretary of 
the Treasury shall liquidate or reliquidate as free of duty and free of 
any quantitative restrictions, limitations, or consultation levels 
entries of articles described in subsection (d) made on or after 
October 1, 2000, and before the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Requests.--Liquidation or reliquidation may be made under 
subsection (a) with respect to an entry described in subsection (d) 
only if a request therefor is filed with the Secretary of the Treasury 
within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and the 
request contains sufficient information to enable the Secretary to 
locate the entry or reconstruct the entry if it cannot be located.
    (c) Payment of Amounts Owed.--Any amounts owed by the United States 
pursuant to the liquidation or reliquidation of any entry under 
subsection (a) shall be paid not later than 180 days after the date of 
such liquidation or reliquidation.
    (d) Entries.--The entries referred to in subsection (a) are entries 
of apparel articles that meet the requirements of section 112(b) of the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act, as amended by section 3108 of the 
Trade Act of 2002 and this Act.

SEC. 9. DEVELOPMENT STUDY AND CAPACITY BUILDING.

    (a) Reports.--The President shall, by not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, conduct a study on each eligible 
sub-Saharan African country, that--
        (1) identifies sectors of the economy of that country with the 
    greatest potential for growth, including through export sales;
        (2) identifies barriers, both domestically and internationally, 
    that are impeding growth in such sectors; and
        (3) makes recommendations on how the United States Government 
    and the private sector can provide technical assistance to that 
    country to assist in dismantling such barriers and in promoting 
    investment in such sectors.
    (b) Dissemination of Information.--The President shall disseminate 
information in each study conducted under subsection (a) to the 
appropriate United States agencies for the purpose of implementing 
recommendations on the provision of technical assistance and in 
identifying opportunities for United States investors, businesses, and 
farmers.

SEC. 10. ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT INCREASING 
              TRADE CAPACITY AND ECOTOURISM.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
        (1) Ecotourism, which consists of--
            (A) responsible and sustainable travel and visitation to 
        relatively undisturbed natural areas in order to enjoy and 
        appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features, both 
        past and present) and animals, including species that are rare 
        or endangered,
            (B) promotion of conservation and provision for beneficial 
        involvement of local populations, and
            (C) visitation designed to have low negative impact upon 
        the environment,
    is expected to expand 30 percent globally over the next decade.
        (2) Ecotourism will increase trade capacity by sustaining 
    otherwise unsustainable infrastructure, such as road, port, water, 
    energy, and telecommunication development.
        (3) According to the United States Department of State and the 
    United Nations Environment Programme, sustainable tourism, such as 
    ecotourism, can be an important part of the economic development of 
    a region, especially a region with natural and cultural protected 
    areas.
        (4) Sub-Saharan Africa enjoys an international comparative 
    advantage in ecotourism because it features extensive protected 
    areas that host a variety of ecosystems and traditional cultures 
    that are major attractions for nature-oriented tourism.
        (5) National parks and reserves in sub-Saharan Africa should be 
    considered a basis for regional development, involving communities 
    living within and adjacent to them and, given their strong 
    international recognition, provide an advantage in ecotourism 
    marketing and promotion.
        (6) Desert areas in sub-Saharan Africa represent complex 
    ecotourism attractions, showcasing natural, geological, and 
    archaeological features, and nomad and other cultures and 
    traditions.
        (7) Many natural zones in sub-Saharan Africa cross the 
    political borders of several countries; therefore, transboundary 
    cooperation is fundamental for all types of ecotourism development.
        (8) The commercial viability of ecotourism is enhanced when 
    small and medium enterprises, particularly microenterprises, 
    successfully engage with the tourism industry in sub-Saharan 
    Africa.
        (9) Adequate capacity building is an essential component of 
    ecotourism development if local communities are to be real 
    stakeholders that can sustain an equitable approach to ecotourism 
    management.
        (10) Ecotourism needs to generate local community benefits by 
    utilizing sub-Saharan Africa's natural heritage, parks, wildlife 
    reserves, and other protected areas that can play a significant 
    role in encouraging local economic development by sourcing food and 
    other locally produced resources.
    (b) Action by the President.--The President shall develop and 
implement policies to--
        (1) encourage the development of infrastructure projects that 
    will help to increase trade capacity and a sustainable ecotourism 
    industry in eligible sub-Saharan African countries;
        (2) encourage and facilitate transboundary cooperation among 
    sub-Saharan African countries in order to facilitate trade;
        (3) encourage the provision of technical assistance to eligible 
    sub-Saharan African countries to establish and sustain adequate 
    trade capacity development; and
        (4) encourage micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises in 
    eligible sub-Saharan African countries to participate in the 
    ecotourism industry.

SEC. 11. ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY, AGRICULTURE, 
              AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
        (1) In order to increase exports from, and trade among, 
    eligible sub-Saharan African countries, transportation systems in 
    those countries must be improved to increase transport efficiencies 
    and lower transport costs.
        (2) Vibrant economic growth requires a developed 
    telecommunication and energy infrastructure.
        (3) Sub-Saharan Africa is rich in exportable agricultural 
    goods, but development of this industry remains stymied because of 
    an underdeveloped infrastructure.
    (b) Action by the President.--In order to enhance trade with Africa 
and to bring the benefits of trade to African countries, the President 
shall develop and implement policies to encourage investment in 
eligible sub-Saharan African countries, particularly with respect to 
the following:
        (1) Infrastructure projects that support, in particular, 
    development of land transport road and railroad networks and ports, 
    and the continued upgrading and liberalization of the energy and 
    telecommunications sectors.
        (2) The establishment and expansion of modern information and 
    communication technologies and practices to improve the ability of 
    citizens to research and disseminate information relating to, among 
    other things, the economy, education, trade, health, agriculture, 
    the environment, and the media.
        (3) Agriculture, particularly in processing and capacity 
    enhancement.

SEC. 12. FACILITATION OF TRANSPORTATION.

    In order to facilitate and increase trade flows between eligible 
sub-Saharan African countries and the United States, the President 
shall foster improved port-to-port and airport-to-airport 
relationships. These relationships should facilitate--
        (1) increased coordination between customs services at ports 
    and airports in the United States and such countries in order to 
    reduce time in transit;
        (2) interaction between customs and technical staff from ports 
    and airports in the United States and such countries in order to 
    increase efficiency and safety procedures and protocols relating to 
    trade;
        (3) coordination between chambers of commerce, freight 
    forwarders, customs brokers, and others involved in consolidating 
    and moving freight; and
        (4) trade through air service between airports in the United 
    States and such countries by increasing frequency and capacity.

SEC. 13. AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Identification of Countries.--The President shall identify not 
fewer than 10 eligible sub-Saharan African countries as having the 
greatest potential to increase marketable exports of agricultural 
products to the United States and the greatest need for technical 
assistance, particularly with respect to pest risk assessments and 
complying with sanitary and phytosanitary rules of the United States.
    (b) Personnel.--The President shall assign at least 20 full-time 
personnel for the purpose of providing assistance to the countries 
identified under subsection (a) to ensure that exports of agricultural 
products from those countries meet the requirements of United States 
law.

SEC. 14. TRADE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AFRICA.

    The President shall convene the trade advisory committee on Africa 
established by Executive Order 11846 of March 27, 1975, under section 
135(c) of the Trade Act of 1974, in order to facilitate the goals and 
objectives of the African Growth and Opportunity Act and this Act, and 
to maintain ongoing discussions with African trade and agriculture 
ministries and private sector organizations on issues of mutual 
concern, including regional and international trade concerns and World 
Trade Organization issues.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.
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