Tariff Preferences Under Africa and Haiti Programs Expire

The African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Haiti HELP/HOPE acts expired Sept. 30, subjecting imports from beneficiary countries to both most-favored-nation duties and “reciprocal” tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

For 25 years AGOA provided eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. for more than 1,800 products in addition to the more than 5,100 products eligible under the Generalized System of Preferences. Although GSP expired Dec. 31, 2020, tariff lines covered by GSP remained eligible for AGOA beneficiaries. AGOA also afforded additional preferences to textile and apparel goods imported from designated lesser-developed beneficiary countries.

In 2025 there were 32 countries eligible for AGOA benefits based on meeting criteria relating to establishing a market-based economy, the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process as well as eliminating barriers to U.S. trade and investment, enacting policies to reduce poverty, combating corruption, and protecting human rights. The most recent biennial report on the operation of AGOA noted that in 2023 U.S. imports under this program totaled $9.7 billion, including about $4.2 billion in crude oil, $1.1 billion in apparel, and more than $900 million in agricultural products.

The Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act, enacted in 2006, allowed duty-free imports of certain apparel wholly assembled, knit, or knit-to-shape in Haiti using yarns and fabrics from any country. HOPE II, enacted in 2008, allowed qualifying goods to also be exported from the Dominican Republic and created four new preference programs for Haitian-manufactured apparel. The Haiti Economic Lift Program, enacted in 2010, allowed additional textile and apparel articles to qualify for duty-free treatment and increased some quota levels. Click here for more information on these programs.

There is some speculation that these programs could be reauthorized, perhaps retroactively, before the end of the year. That possibility could be bolstered by press reports that there is bipartisan support in Congress and that the White House supports a one-year extension.