AGOA, Haiti HELP Pass House With Massive Support

In votes on the evening of Jan. 12, the House voted 340-54, for AGOA, and 345-45 for the Haitian trade preferences. Both votes garnered support from more than 85% of those members present.

Ahead of the vote, the Coalition for a Prosperous America, a Trump-aligned pro-tariff group, asked members to vote against AGOA. CPA President Jon Toomey said in a statement, "AGOA’s one-way preferences undermine tariff collections that could be invested at home and leave U.S. producers at a competitive disadvantage, all while failing to achieve its stated development or geopolitical objectives."

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., said in a speech on the floor ahead of the vote that AGOA serves American strategic, economic and national security interests.

"Think about it: This program strengthens our critical supply chains and helps us counter the harmful global influence of nations like China and Russia," he said.

"Don’t just take my word for it: A witness testifying before the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee put it bluntly when discussing the potential for a lapse in AGOA when he said 'there’ll be a party in Moscow, there’ll be a party in Beijing, if we don’t reauthorize it.'"

Smith said there needs to be a longer-term extension, but during this period of stability, "Congress can continue its work on future reforms to address and strengthen U.S. priorities."

One of the reforms Smith is hoping for is a graduation process that leads to bilateral trade agreements that continue duty breaks for the African partners.

"Right now, the nation of Mauritius is on track to graduate from AGOA within the next five years. When African nations take steps to expand their markets to American products, graduating from AGOA should have clear benefits, not negative consequences," he said.

After the votes, Ways and Means ranking member Richard Neal, D-Mass., said in a statement: "Tonight’s votes are a win for two vehicles that have been instrumental to unlocking critical partnerships in trade between America and our allies in Africa and Haiti. As the Administration walks away from international agreements, targets our trading partners with illegal IEEPA tariffs, and makes things personal with attacks on the African and Haitian people, Congress tonight took an overdue step in reaffirming our nation’s commitment to our allies and to sensible trade policy that builds jobs and sparks economies."

On Jan. 13, the American Apparel and Footwear Association hailed the votes.

"For 25 years, AGOA has provided eligible Sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access, strengthening American exports in textiles and agriculture and fostering a wide array of U.S.-Africa commercial partnerships. Likewise, for more than 15 years, the Haiti HOPE/HELP programs have supported both U.S. and Haitian textile industries by granting Haiti duty-free access for apparel and textile products, building strong business ties between the two neighboring nations," AAFA's press release said.

"Yesterday’s vote reflects bipartisan recognition that protecting the African and Haitian apparel and footwear industries strengthens the U.S. apparel and footwear industry, and its 3.6 million American workers, by opening markets for U.S. cotton and textile exports and advancing diversified sourcing goals," said Beth Hughes, AAFA’s vice president of trade and customs policy. "These programs promote stable, transparent supply chains while expanding economic opportunity. We urge swift action as the bill now moves to the Senate."

Hughes previously said the Senate is hoping to attach the AGOA and Haitian HELP bills to an appropriations package. The Senate majority leader told reporters Jan. 12 that he intends to move a group of appropriations bills before senators leave Jan. 15, but whether that will happen is not yet clear.