AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004
PL 108-274 (H.R.4103), enacted 07/13/2004

118 STAT. 820
PUBLIC LAW 108–274—JULY 13, 2004
Public Law 108–274
108th Congress
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 demo-
cratic values and the rule of law, and have strengthened adher-
ence 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 main-
tained by WTO member countries on textile and apparel prod-
ucts 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, econo-
mies of scale, and better infrastructure.
(5) The underdeveloped physical and financial infrastruc-
ture 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 poli-
cies grounded in African interests and history to achieve
sustainable development.
(7) Expanded trade because of the Act has improved funda-
mental economic conditions within sub-Saharan Africa. The
Act has helped to create jobs in the poorest region of the
19 USC 3701
note.
AGOA
Acceleration Act
of 2004.
19 USC 3701
note.
July 13, 2004
[H.R. 4103]
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118 STAT. 821
PUBLIC LAW 108–274—JULY 13, 2004
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 coun-
tries 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. Afri-
can countries need continued United States financial and tech-
nical 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 finan-
cial infrastructure;
(4) international efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuber-
culosis, 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 link-
ages 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;
19 USC 3701
note.
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118 STAT. 822
PUBLIC LAW 108–274—JULY 13, 2004
(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-Saha-
ran 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 agree-
ments 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 trans-
parency, establishing general dispute settlement mechanisms,
and investor-state and state-to-state dispute settlement mecha-
nisms 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 eco-
nomic growth;
(10) regional integration among sub-Saharan African coun-
tries and business partnerships between United States and
African firms; and
(11) economic diversification in sub-Saharan African coun-
tries and expansion of trade beyond textiles and apparel.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON RECIPROCITY AND REGIONAL ECO-
NOMIC 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 Sani-
tary and Phytosanitary Measures, and the Agreement on Trade-
19 USC 3701
note.
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118 STAT. 823
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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 partici-
pate in and support mutual trade liberalization in ongoing
negotiations under the auspices of the World Trade Organiza-
tion, 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 devel-
oping countries;
(3) some of the most pernicious trade barriers against
exports by developing countries are the trade barriers main-
tained by other developing countries; therefore, eligible sub-
Saharan African countries will benefit from the reduction of
trade barriers in other developing countries, especially in devel-
oping 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 Agree-
ments (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 bene-
ficiary 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
19 USC 3701
note.
19 USC 3701
note.
19 USC 3701
note.
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118 STAT. 824
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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 fab-
rics, 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 suc-
ceeding 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 avail-
able.
‘‘(ii) APPLICABLE
PERCENTAGE.—For purposes of
this subparagraph, the term ‘applicable percentage’
means—
‘‘(I) 4.747 percent for the 1-year period begin-
ning 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
COUN-
TRIES.—
‘‘(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 Afri-
can 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
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118 STAT. 825
PUBLIC LAW 108–274—JULY 13, 2004
the preceding 12-month period for which data are avail-
able.
‘‘(ii) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE.—For purposes of the
subparagraph, 
the 
term 
‘applicable 
percentage’
means—
‘‘(I) 2.3571 percent for the 1-year period begin-
ning October 1, 2003;
‘‘(II) 2.6428 percent for the 1-year period begin-
ning 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-SAHA-
RAN AFRICAN COUNTRY.—For purposes of this subpara-
graph, the term ‘lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saha-
ran 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 fol-
lows:
‘‘(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, hand-
made, 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 Har-
monized Tariff Schedule of the United States;
‘‘(ii) of the type that contains designs, symbols,
and other characteristics of African prints—
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118 STAT. 826
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‘‘(I) normally produced for and sold on the
indigenous African market; and
‘‘(II) normally sold in Africa by the piece as
opposed to being tailored into 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 Afri-
can 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 ineli-
gible 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
19 USC 3701
note.
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118 STAT. 827
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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 internation-
ally, that are impeding growth in such sectors; and
(3) makes recommendations on how the United States
Government and the private sector can provide technical assist-
ance 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 assist-
ance 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 fea-
tures, both past and present) and animals, including species
that are rare or endangered,
(B) promotion of conservation and provision for bene-
ficial 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
19 USC 3701
note.
Deadline.
President.
19 USC 3701
note.
Deadline.
Deadline.
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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 develop-
ment.
(8) The commercial viability of ecotourism is enhanced
when small and medium enterprises, particularly microenter-
prises, 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, wild-
life reserves, and other protected areas that can play a signifi-
cant 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 
INFRA-
STRUCTURE.
(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 effi-
ciencies and lower transport costs.
19 USC 3701
note.
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(2) Vibrant economic growth requires a developed tele-
communication 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 relation-
ships. 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 proto-
cols relating to trade;
(3) coordination between chambers of commerce, freight
forwarders, customs brokers, and others involved in consoli-
dating 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 iden-
tify 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 assess-
ments 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 coun-
tries identified under subsection (a) to ensure that exports of agri-
cultural 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
President.
19 USC 3701
note.
President.
19 USC 3701
note.
19 USC 3701
note.
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118 STAT. 830
PUBLIC LAW 108–274—JULY 13, 2004
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4103:
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 108–501 (Comm. on Ways and Means).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 150 (2004):
June 14, considered and passed House.
June 24, considered and passed Senate.
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 40 (2004):
July 13, Presidential remarks.
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.
Approved July 13, 2004.
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