Washington, DC — Today, Representative John James (MI-10), the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Africa, released the following statement following the introduction of the AGOA Extension and Enhancement Act of 2024:
“As the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, I am proud to introduce this bill that reauthorizes the African Growth and Opportunity Act until 2037.
“The value of AGOA to the United States is clear. Fostering a robust business environment between the African continent and American business will lead to economic growth and prosperity for African countries and lower costs for consumers here in the United States.
“The promise of access into the U.S. market has proven to be a major incentive for the private sector to adjust their supply chains and move manufacturing from China to Africa. AGOA has provided hundreds of thousands of jobs for African workers and has accelerated the decoupling of China from global manufacturing supply chains.
“AGOA is the anchor of the U.S.-Africa economic relationship, and this reauthorization bill will ensure that our African partners maximize their utilization from their eligibility. Additionally, this legislation provides the President and Congress broader and more dynamic options to assess the eligibility of African countries.
“U.S. strategy towards Africa is too often stick without the carrot – and fails to recognize the vast economic potential of the continent. If we do not engage proactively, we are ceding the space to our adversaries. Passage of this bill, alongside a reauthorization of the DFC at the start of the 119th Congress, are integral steps to strengthening the U.S.-Africa relationship, realizing Africa’s abundant economic potential and protecting the interests of U.S. consumers and companies.”
For a summary of the bill see here.
For full bill text see here.
