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Amends section 506B of the Trade Act of 1974 (codified at 19 U.S.C. 2466b) by replacing references to 'section 506A(c)' with 'section 506A(e)' and by striking and inserting additional text (new text not provided in the section).
Amends section 112 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721): updates cross-references from 'section 506A(c)' to 'section 506A(e)' in subsection (a) and subsection (f)(2); extends the regional apparel article program by changing '21 succeeding 1-year periods' to '23 succeeding 1-year periods' in subsection (b)(3)(A)(i); and strikes and inserts language in subsection (g) and in subsection (c)(1) (including subparagraphs (A) and (B)(ii)).
Makes technical changes to U.S. trade law under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), extends certain apparel preference provisions, and directs the U.S. Trade Representative to submit a 180-day plan to negotiate bilateral trade agreements with AGOA-eligible countries. Also requires the President to review the U.S.–South Africa relationship and, within 120 days, report findings and certify whether South Africa’s actions undermine U.S. national security or foreign policy, including a classified list of South African officials and ANC leaders who may meet Global Magnitsky sanction criteria.
Amend Section 506B of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466b) by striking the text "section 506A(c)" and inserting "section 506A(e)". The provision also contains an additional 'by striking and inserting' amendment (text to be replaced is not shown in the section).
Amend Section 112(g) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(g)) by striking and inserting (replacement text not shown in the section).
Extend the AGOA regional apparel article program in Section 112(b)(3)(A): in clause (i), change the period from "21 succeeding 1-year periods" to "23 succeeding 1-year periods".
Amend Section 112(b)(3)(A) further by striking and inserting in clause (ii)(II) (replacement text not shown in the section).
Amend Section 112(c)(1) of AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3721(c)(1)) related to the third-country fabric program: the paragraph heading, subparagraph (A), and subparagraph (B)(ii) are each amended by 'striking and inserting' (replacement text not shown in the section).
Primary impacts are on AGOA-eligible governments and export-oriented businesses: the legal and administrative fixes plus the apparel-program extension provide short-term continuity and clarity for apparel exporters and importers relying on AGOA preferences. The mandated USTR plan could shift U.S. trade policy toward negotiating bilateral agreements with selected African partners, affecting exporters, importers, and trade negotiators if and when negotiations begin. Federal executive agencies (USTR, State, Commerce, and others) will face administrative workload to prepare the required plan and interagency consultations. The presidential review requirement places diplomatic and national-security focus on South Africa; a finding that South Africa undermines U.S. interests or the classified identification of individuals meeting Global Magnitsky criteria could lead to increased diplomatic pressure, targeted sanctions, or changes in bilateral cooperation—affecting U.S.-South Africa diplomatic, security, and economic ties. Private-sector actors may see shifts in market access or reputational impacts depending on subsequent executive actions. No direct new spending or programmatic mandates for states or localities are specified, but executive branch reporting and potential follow-on measures could have broader geopolitical and economic consequences.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Introduced September 30, 2025 by John Neely Kennedy · Last progress September 30, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Introduced in Senate