The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has voiced strong support for newly introduced legislation proposing a three-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Haiti HOPE/HELP trade preference programs. The Haiti Economic Lift Program Extension Act and the AGOA Extension Act are slated for consideration by the House Ways and Means Committee tomorrow, aiming to reinstate programs that expired on September 30, 2025.
AGOA has, for 25 years, provided eligible Sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market, boosting American exports in textiles, agriculture, and other sectors while fostering long-term commercial partnerships across the continent. Similarly, the Haiti HOPE/HELP programs, active for more than 15 years, have supported crucial ties between U.S. and Haitian textile industries by ensuring duty-free treatment for apparel and textile products made in Haiti.
AAFA Highlights Broad Economic Benefits
“This renewal will be a major win for American workers, our partners in Sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti, and for U.S. competitiveness,” said Beth Hughes, AAFA’s Vice President of Trade and Customs Policy. She emphasized that these trade preference programs help safeguard 3.6 million American jobs, support employment across partner countries, and expand international markets for U.S. cotton and textile exports.
Hughes added that the proposed extension represents a cost-effective, bipartisan commitment to stabilizing supply chains at a time when global sourcing environments remain unpredictable.
Also Read: AAFA Urges Congress to Renew AGOA and Haiti HOPE/HELP Trade Programs Before 2025 Expiration
Urgency After Program Lapse
AAFA stressed that the lapse of AGOA and HOPE/HELP on September 30 created immediate disruptions and uncertainty for the fashion and textile industries. Many sourcing operations in Africa, Haiti, and the United States rely on the consistent, long-term policy environment these programs provide. The association welcomed Congress’s prompt effort to introduce legislation that would also deliver retroactive relief.
Continued Advocacy for Renewal
The AAFA has been an active voice urging renewal throughout 2024 and 2025. The association provided testimony before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in July on AGOA’s renewal and appeared before the International Trade Commission (ITC) in February to advocate for the continuation of Haiti HOPE/HELP.
The association reiterated that restoring these programs is essential for maintaining trade stability, supporting U.S. export competitiveness, and protecting millions of jobs connected to the apparel and textile supply chain.
