Limits Established on Duty-Free Apparel Imports from Africa

The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has published quantitative limits on apparel assembled in sub-Saharan Africa that may be imported duty-free.

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 Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027, the aggregate quantity of imports eligible for preferential treatment under these provisions is 1,690,799,016 square meters equivalent (up from 1,046,888,893 SME). Of this amount, 845,399,508 SME (up from 523,444,446 SME) is available to apparel articles imported under the special rule for LDCs.

Apparel articles entered in excess of these amounts will be subject to otherwise applicable tariffs.