Neal Asks ITC for AGOA Analysis Ahead of Program's Expiration
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., asked the International Trade Commission to analyze the results of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, including which participating countries export the most, both commodities and value-added products, and identifying tariff-eligible products where the preference was not claimed, as well as imports of products not covered by the program. Neal asked the ITC to identify countries and sectors that are heavy users of AGOA, and that do not use AGOA much "and broad factors that explain this."
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He wants them to evaluate how much AGOA has helped African countries' economies to integrate, and how much it has contributed to economic development in the covered countries, including through job growth and poverty reduction. He asked that the report be completed within 14 months, and that no confidential business information be included, as the report will be released to the public. AGOA expires at the end of September in 2025. The Jan. 19 letter also asked that the ITC provide case studies on cotton production, as well as on the export of apparel, chemicals and cocoa from AGOA countries.