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“Will Keep You Informed”
Washington Trade Daily
Volume 15, Number 190 Monday, September 25, 2006
Trade Reports International Group
House to Take Up AGOA, GSP
Tomorrow the House is slated to vote on legislation (HR 6142) renewing two US trade preferences programs and extending new benefits to apparel products from Haiti (WTD, 9/24/06).
The legislation – introduced late last week by Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif) – is scheduled to be taken up under suspension of the rules, which bars amendments and requires a two-thirds majority for passage.
The bill extends the US Generalized System of Preferences program – currently set to expire at the end of this year – for an additional two years and makes changes to the program that would limit benefits for some higher-income developing countries.
HR 6142 also extends the African Growth and Opportunity Act?s special third-country fabric provision for the poorest countries. The provision – which begins to phase out next month – allows sub-Saharan African beneficiaries to use fabric from third countries in their duty-free apparel exports to the
The bill extends similar benefits to apparel from
A textile industry group on Friday came out in strong opposition to the bill, saying that the provisions would primarily benefit