PROSPER in the Pacific Act

Summary

Creates a U.S. preferential trade program and accompanying capacity-building measures for 14 Pacific Island countries, letting the President designate eligible duty-free imports from qualifying countries and requiring plans to pursue free trade agreements. It sets eligibility rules tied to existing U.S. trade law (including labor, human rights, and environmental protections), requires a trade facilitation and export-capacity program, mandates reporting to Congress, and sunsets the duty-free benefits after December 31, 2036.

• Creates a U.S. tariff-preference program to grant duty-free access for qualifying goods from 14 Pacific Island countries.
• Makes eligibility depend on existing U.S. trade-law criteria and new absolute bars for labor, gross human rights abuses, and failure to enforce environmental laws.
• Requires the President to prepare a plan within 12 months to negotiate free trade agreements with interested Pacific Island countries.
• Directs establishment, within 180 days, of a trade facilitation and capacity-building program to help exporters and financial institutions in eligible Pacific countries.
• Mandates an annual report to Congress on trade and investment policy for the Pacific Islands through 2036.
• Sunsets duty-free treatment provided under the Act on December 31, 2036.
• Extends existing mechanisms for designating eligible articles under U.S. trade law to qualifying Pacific Island countries.
• Requires consultation with Pacific governments, civil society, Indigenous groups, and the private sector in program design and trade negotiations.
• Does not itself appropriate funding; implementation likely requires agency action or future appropriations.