AGOA EXTENSION ACT

On 2026-01-12, Representative Jason Smith (R-MO-8) delivered a floor speech titled "AGOA EXTENSION ACT" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered climate policy, foreign policy. It referenced legislation: HR6500.

AGOA EXTENSION ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026)] [House] [Pages H637-H642] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] AGOA EXTENSION ACT Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6500) to extend duty-free treatment provided with respect to imports from certain countries in Africa under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, to extend customs user fees, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6500 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 Extension Act''. SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN COUNTRIES IN AFRICA UNDER AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT; RETROACTIVE APPLICATION. (a) Extension.-- (1) Trade act of 1974.--Section 506B of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466b) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``December 31, 2028''. (2) African growth and opportunity act.-- (A) In general.--Section 112(g) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(g)) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``December 31, 2028''. (B) Regional apparel article program.--Section 112(b)(3)(A) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(3)(A)) is amended-- (i) in clause (i), by striking ``21 succeeding'' and inserting ``24 succeeding''; and (ii) in clause (ii)(II), by striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``December 31, 2028''. (C) Third-country fabric program.--Section 112(c)(1) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(c)(1)) is amended-- (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``september 30, 2025'' and inserting ``december 31, 2028''; (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``December 31, 2028''; and (iii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``September 30, 2025'' and inserting ``December 31, 2028''. (b) Retroactive Application.-- (1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1514) or any other provision of law, and subject to paragraph (2), any entry of a covered article to which duty-free treatment or other preferential treatment under section 506A of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466a) would have applied if the entry had been made on September 30, 2025, that was made-- (A) after September 30, 2025, and (B) before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall be liquidated or reliquidated as though such entry occurred on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Requests.--A liquidation or reliquidation may be made under paragraph (1) with respect to an entry only if a request therefor is filed with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act that contains sufficient information to enable such Commissioner-- (A) to locate the entry; or (B) to reconstruct the entry if it cannot be located. (3) Payment of amounts owed.--Any amounts owed by the United States pursuant to the liquidation or reliquidation of an entry of a covered article under paragraph (1) shall be paid, without interest of any kind, not later than 90 days after the date of the liquidation or reliquidation (as the case may be). (4) Definitions.--In this subsection: (A) Covered article.--The term ``covered article'' means an article from a country that is designated by the President as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under section 104 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3703) as of the day before the date of the enactment of this Act. (B) Entry.--The term ``entry'' includes a withdrawal from warehouse for consumption. SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CUSTOMS USER FEES. (a) In General.--Section 13031(j)(3) of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (19 U.S.C. 58c(j)(3)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``September 30, 2031'' and inserting ``December 31, 2031''; and (2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``September 30, 2031'' and inserting ``December 31, 2031''. (b) Rate for Merchandise Processing Fees.--Section 503 of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note) is amended by striking ``September 30, 2031'' and inserting ``December 31, 2031''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith) and the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri. General Leave Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this bill under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Missouri? There was no objection. Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6500, the AGOA Extension Act, legislation to reauthorize the African Growth and Opportunity Act trade preference program. Our Nation's economic, strategic, and national security interests are front and center in AGOA. Think about it: This program strengthens our critical supply chains and helps us counter the harmful global influence of nations like China and Russia. Don't just take my word for it. A witness testifying before the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee put it bluntly when discussing the potential for a lapse in AGOA when he said: ``There will be a party in Moscow. There will be a party in Beijing if we don't reauthorize it.'' To achieve this, however, we aren't going to lower our standards. This extension maintains the most stringent eligibility criteria of any trade preference program, with annual reviews to defend IP rights, human rights, market access, and the rule of law against corruption. To be eligible, countries must also ensure they are not undermining America's national security or foreign policy interests. While we still need a longer-term AGOA extension, this reauthorization provides a much-needed level of certainty and stability in the near term so that Congress can continue its work on future reforms to address and strengthen U.S. priorities. After all, U.S. businesses have invested $8 billion annually under AGOA while our African trading partners have begun to open their markets for U.S. agriculture. Protecting market access for America's farmers and ranchers is incredibly important to the rural communities I represent in Missouri, a point I have made in my travels to the regions going back to 2015 when I attended the AGOA forum in Gabon. After we take this step, we can build further. Americans would benefit if African nations graduated into formal bilateral trade agreements with the U.S. [[Page H638]] Right now, the nation of Mauritius is on track to graduate from AGOA within the next 5 years. When African nations take steps to expand their markets to American products, graduating from AGOA should have clear benefits, not negative consequences. Africa is home to 30 percent of the world's critical mineral reserves, and China is quickly moving to corner the market on critical minerals and exploit Africa's vast resources. Stronger partnerships with African nations mean we will limit China's ability to make further gains in the region and protect our national security interests. {time} 1710 Madam Speaker, for example, last year the Trump administration announced a strategic partnership agreement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo to develop critical minerals. I thank the chairman of our Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, Congressman Adrian Smith, for his tremendous work and leadership in proactively building support for this renewal effort. I urge my colleagues to support this extension of AGOA, which received strong bipartisan approval in the Ways and Means Committee. I look forward to continuing to work across the aisle to further strengthen this critical program. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. SEWELL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6500, the AGOA Extension Act. For over two decades, AGOA, the African Growth and Opportunity Act, has affirmed America's commitment to expanding economic opportunity, creating jobs, strengthening strategic partnerships, and forging mutually beneficial economic bonds between the United States and our allies in sub-Saharan Africa. Since its enactment in 2000, AGOA has provided duty-free access to the U.S. market for a broad range of goods from eligible AGOA sub- Saharan African countries. AGOA has enjoyed broad bicameral and bipartisan support from both Democrats and Republicans from both the House and the Senate. By lowering barriers for African exports, AGOA expands demand for U.S. services and inputs--from agricultural equipment to digital and logistic services to energy and finance--supporting jobs at home and abroad. In an era of global economic disruption, AGOA helps U.S. companies diversify supply sources and build resilient and market-oriented networks in key sectors, including textiles, agriculture, and renewable energy. By providing preferential treatment for developing African countries, AGOA promotes U.S. strategic influence and democratic values, as well as economic prosperity. Eligibility under AGOA is directly tied to the progress by these developing African countries on market reform, rule of law, labor standards, and human rights. The conditionality of this trade preference program harnesses trade as a catalyst for reform, not just revenue. Unfortunately, the AGOA program expired in September 2025, creating uncertainty for the future of America's rela

Referenced legislation: HR6500, HR6500