Limits Established on Duty-Free Apparel Imports from Haiti and Africa

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has published quantitative limits on apparel assembled in Haiti or sub-Saharan Africa that may be imported duty-free this year. Apparel articles entered in excess of these amounts will be subject to otherwise applicable tariffs.

Haiti. The value-added provision of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act provides for duty-free treatment for apparel articles (1) that are wholly assembled or knit-to-shape in Haiti from any combination of fabrics, fabric components, components knit-to-shape, and yarns, (2) as long as the sum of the cost or value of materials produced in Haiti, one or more other beneficiary countries or parties to a free trade agreement with the U.S., the U.S., or any combination thereof, plus the direct costs of processing operations performed in Haiti or one or more beneficiary countries, or any combination thereof, is not less than an applicable percentage of the declared customs value of such apparel articles.

CITA states that for the period Feb. 3 through Dec. 19, 2026, the quantity of imports eligible for such treatment is 267,063,493 square meters equivalent.

AGOA. The African Growth and Opportunity Act provides duty-free treatment for apparel articles (1) wholly assembled in one or more beneficiary SSA countries (2) from fabric wholly formed in one or more such countries (3) from yarn originating in the U.S. or one or more current or former such countries. This treatment is also available for apparel articles assembled in one or more lesser-developed beneficiary SSA countries regardless of the country of origin of the fabric used to make such articles.

For the period Feb. 3 through Sept. 30, 2026, the aggregate quantity of imports eligible for preferential treatment under these provisions is 1,046,888,893 SME. Of this amount, 523,444,446 SME is available to apparel articles imported under the special rule for LDCs.