House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., the man in charge of setting the calendar of floor votes, did not directly answer a question on whether the Haiti trade preference bill and the African Growth and Opportunity Act will get a vote in January, but indicated they're on his radar.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said he expects the U.S. will announce more trade deals, and release text about previously announced framework deals "in the coming weeks."
The House Ways and Means Committee voted 37-3 to recommend a renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act through the end of 2028, with retroactive benefits since the program expired Sept. 30 (see 2512090051). Requests for liquidation or reliquidation would have to be filed within 180 days of enactment of the law, and CBP would have to pay within 90 days. No interest would be offered on the tariff refunds.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., announced a Dec. 10 meeting to mark up bills extending both the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., in a brief hallway interview at the Capitol, told International Trade Today that he "absolutely" believes that a renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act can get a vote in the House soon.
Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., continues to emphasize the importance of a long-term preference program for both sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti, but, in responses to questions for the record, deputy U.S. trade representative nominee Jeffrey Goettman said the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative supports a one-year renewal for both.
House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith, R-Neb., wrote that in order to make sure the "strong trade deals" the president has negotiated with Europe, Malaysia, Japan and others last past 2028, Congress must codify those agreements.
In a hearing on the nominations for the chief agricultural negotiator and the deputy U.S. trade representative responsible for Africa, the Western Hemisphere and Europe, senators from both parties criticized the decision to import Argentinian beef and complained about foreign non-tariff barriers in agriculture.
Sen. John Kennedy's bill to restore African Growth and Opportunity Act trade preferences retains the third-country fabric provision and extends the program until Sept. 30, 2027.
CBP created Harmonized System Update 2538 on Oct. 10, containing 32 Harmonized Tariff Records and 88 Automated Broker Interface records. The update includes Section 232 Timber/Lumber Tariff Updates and Adjustments for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Haiti Hope trade preference programs.