I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6619 
To authorize preferential treatment for certain imports from the Pacific 
Islands. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 11, 2025 
Mr. CASE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Ways and Means 
A BILL 
To authorize preferential treatment for certain imports from 
the Pacific Islands. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Promoting Regional 
Opportunities for Sustainable Prosperity and Economic 
Resilience in the Pacific Act’’ or the ‘‘PROSPER in the 
Pacific Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
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(1) the United States has longstanding and en-
during cultural, historic, economic, strategic, and 
people-to-people connections with the Pacific Islands, 
based on shared values, cultural histories, common 
interests, and a commitment to fostering mutual un-
derstanding and cooperation; 
(2) the economies of the Pacific Islands coun-
tries face significant challenges including geographic 
isolation, limited economic diversification, vulner-
ability to natural disasters, and underdeveloped in-
frastructure and trade capacity, that can make con-
ventional economic indicators based on average na-
tional 
income 
poor 
measures 
of 
development 
progress and welfare outcomes; 
(3) strengthening U.S.-Pacific Islands economic 
ties through a preferential trade program would pro-
mote inclusive economic development, create sustain-
able job opportunities, and improve standards of liv-
ing in the region; and 
(4) a U.S.-led preferential trade program would 
also make Americans safer, stronger, and more pros-
perous by advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific, 
prioritizing sovereignty, economic independence, and 
the rule of law. 
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SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall authorize the 
provision of preferential treatment under section 4 to arti-
cles that are imported directly from a Pacific Islands 
country into the customs territory of the United States 
if the President determines that the country— 
(1) meets the requirements set forth in para-
graphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 104 of the Afri-
can Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3703); 
(2) does not meet any of the bases for ineligi-
bility under section 502(b)(2) of the Trade Act of 
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2462(b)(2)) and does not meet any 
of the additional bases for ineligibility under sub-
section (c); and 
(3) after taking into account the factors set 
forth in paragraphs (1) through (7) of subsection (c) 
of section 502 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 
2462) and the additional factors set forth in sub-
section (d), the country meets the eligibility require-
ments of such section 502. 
Any income threshold requirements applicable for pur-
poses of determining whether a country is eligible to be 
designated as a beneficiary developing country or least- 
developed beneficiary developing country under title V of 
the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.) shall not 
apply with respect to determining whether a Pacific Is-
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lands country is eligible for preferential treatment under 
section 4. 
(b) WITHDRAWAL, SUSPENSION, OR LIMITATION OF 
PREFERENTIAL
TREATMENT; MANDATORY
GRADUA-
TION.—The provisions of subsection (d) of section 502 of 
the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2462) shall apply with 
respect to Pacific Island countries to the same extent and 
in the same manner as such provisions apply with respect 
to beneficiary developing countries under title V of that 
Act (19 U.S.C. 2461 et seq.). 
(c) ADDITIONAL BASES FOR INELIGIBILITY.—The 
President may not authorize the provision of preferential 
treatment under section 4 to articles that are imported 
directly from a Pacific Islands country into the customs 
territory of the United States if any of the following ap-
plies: 
(1) Such country fails to effectively afford 
internationally recognized worker rights to workers 
in the country (including any designated zone in 
that country). 
(2) Such country engages in gross violations of 
internationally recognized human rights in that 
country (including any designated zone in that coun-
try). 
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(3) Such country fails to effectively enforce its 
environmental laws, regulations, or other measures, 
or to fulfill its international environmental obliga-
tions, including as such obligations relate to public 
health and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fish-
ing. 
(d) ADDITIONAL FACTORS AFFECTING COUNTRY 
DESIGNATION.—In determining whether to authorize the 
provision of preferential treatment under section 4 to arti-
cles that are imported directly from a Pacific Islands 
country into the customs territory of the United States, 
the President shall take into account— 
(1) whether or not such country effectively af-
fords to workers in that country (including any des-
ignated zone in that country) internationally recog-
nized worker rights; 
(2) the extent to which such country effectively 
enforces its environmental laws, regulations, and 
other measures, and fulfills its international environ-
mental obligations, including as such obligations re-
lates to public health and illegal, unreported, and 
unregulated fishing; and 
(3) the extent to which such country has estab-
lished, or is making continual progress toward estab-
lishing— 
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(A) the rule of law, political pluralism, and 
the right to due process, a fair trial, and equal 
protection under the law; 
(B) economic policies to reduce poverty in-
crease the availability of health care and edu-
cational opportunities, expand physical infra-
structure, promote the development of private 
enterprise, and encourage the formation of cap-
ital markets through micro-credit or other pro-
grams; and 
(C) a system to combat corruption and 
bribery, such as signing and implementing the 
Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign 
Public Officials in International Business 
Transactions. 
SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTAIN BENEFITS. 
The President is authorized to designate articles as 
eligible articles from a Pacific Islands country that is list-
ed as eligible for benefits under section 3(a) to the same 
extent and in the same manner as the President is author-
ized to designate articles as eligible articles from least de-
veloped beneficiary developing countries under section 503 
of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2463), including sub-
sections (a)(2) and (b) of such section. 
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SEC. 5. FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH PACIFIC ISLANDS 
COUNTRIES. 
(a) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—Congress declares 
that free trade agreements should be negotiated, where 
feasible, with interested countries in the Pacific Islands, 
in order to serve as the catalyst for increasing trade be-
tween the United States and the Pacific Islands and in-
creasing private sector investment in the Pacific Islands. 
(b) PLAN REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The President, taking into 
account the willingness of the Governments of Pa-
cific Islands countries to engage in negotiations to 
enter into free trade agreements, shall develop a 
plan for the purpose of negotiating and entering into 
one or more trade agreements with interested bene-
ficiary Pacific Islands countries. 
(2) ELEMENTS OF PLAN.—The plan shall in-
clude the following: 
(A) The specific objectives of the United 
States with respect to negotiations described in 
paragraph (1) and a suggested timetable for 
achieving those objectives. 
(B) The benefits to both the United States 
and the relevant Pacific Islands countries with 
respect to the applicable free trade agreement 
or agreements. 
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(C) A mutually agreed-upon timetable for 
the negotiations. 
(D) The implications for and the role of 
regional and subregional organizations in the 
Pacific Islands with respect to such free trade 
agreement or agreements. 
(E) Subject matter anticipated to be cov-
ered by the negotiations and United States 
laws, programs, and policies, as well as the laws 
of participating eligible Pacific Islands coun-
tries and existing bilateral and multilateral and 
economic cooperation and trade agreements, 
that may be affected by the agreement or 
agreements. 
(F) Procedures to ensure the following: 
(i) Adequate consultation with the 
Congress and the private sector during the 
negotiations. 
(ii) Consultation with the Congress re-
garding all matters relating to implementa-
tion of the agreement or agreements. 
(iii) Approval by the Congress of the 
agreement or agreements. 
(iv) Adequate consultations with the 
relevant Pacific Islands governments and 
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Pacific Islands regional and subregional 
intergovernmental organizations during the 
negotiation of the agreement or agree-
ments. 
(c) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 12 
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
President shall prepare and transmit to the Congress a 
report containing the plan developed pursuant to sub-
section (b). 
SEC. 6. TRADE FACILITATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the President shall, in consultation with 
the Governments of eligible Pacific Islands countries, es-
tablish a trade facilitation and capacity building program 
for the Pacific Islands— 
(1) to enhance the Governments of eligible Pa-
cific Islands countries to support successful export-
ers and to build awareness among potential export-
ers in eligible Pacific Islands countries about oppor-
tunities abroad and ways to manage trade docu-
mentation and regulations in the United States and 
other countries, including through outreach to civil 
society organizations, indigenous groups, and trade 
associations; 
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(2) to provide export finance training for finan-
cial institutions in eligible Pacific Islands countries 
and the Governments of eligible Pacific Islands 
countries; 
(3) to assist the Governments of eligible Pacific 
Islands countries in maintaining publication of all 
trade regulations, forms for exporters and importers, 
tax and tariff rates, and other documentation relat-
ing to exporting goods on the internet and devel-
oping a robust public-private dialogue for eligible 
Pacific Islands countries to identify timelines for im-
plementation of key reforms and solutions, as pro-
vided for under the Agreement on Trade Facilitation 
of the World Trade Organization; and 
(4) to increase access to guides for importers 
and exporters on the internet, including rules and 
documentation for United States tariff preference 
programs. 
SEC. 7. REPORTING REQUIREMENT. 
The President shall submit to Congress, not later 
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and annually thereafter through 2036, a comprehensive 
report on the trade and investment policy of the United 
States for the Pacific Islands, and on the implementation 
of this Act. 
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SEC. 8. TERMINATION. 
No duty-free treatment provided under this Act shall 
remain in effect after December 31, 2036. 
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘internationally recognized work-
er rights’’ includes— 
(A) the right of association; 
(B) the right to organize and bargain col-
lectively; 
(C) a prohibition on the use of any form 
of forced or compulsory labor; 
(D) a minimum age for the employment of 
children, and a prohibition on the ‘‘worst forms 
of child labor’’, as defined in section 507(6) of 
the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2467(6)); 
(E) acceptable conditions of work with re-
spect to minimum wages, hours of work, and 
occupational safety and health; 
(F) the elimination of discrimination with 
respect to employment and occupation; and 
(G) the elimination of violence or threats 
of violence against workers, including violence 
related to gender-based violence or harassment 
in the workplace and violence related to workers 
exercising or attempting to exercise any of the 
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rights described in subparagraphs (A) through 
(F). 
(2) The terms ‘‘Pacific Islands’’, ‘‘Pacific Is-
lands country’’, ‘‘country in the Pacific Islands’’, 
and ‘‘countries in the Pacific Islands’’ means the 
Cook Islands, the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of 
Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 
Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of 
Nauru, Niue, the Republic of Palau, the Inde-
pendent State of Papua New Guinea, the Inde-
pendent State of Samoa, the Solomon Islands, the 
Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu, and the Republic of 
Vanuatu. 
Æ 
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