US and African textile manufacturers keen to renew AGOA

摘要

Members of the African textile industry have shown keenness to see how the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) gets renewed. The AGOA runs has been legally functional from 2000 and is due for renewal on 30 September 2015. The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) joined six US and African fashion and retail trade organisations in a call for immediate renewal of the AGOA. The organisations also called for long-term renewal of the programme for at least 15 years -including the third-country fabric provision - and extension of the third-country fabric provision to all AGOA beneficiaries. Julia K Hughes, president of the USFIA, said, "AGOA not only allows US companies to produce quality, affordable apparel for their customers, but also provides much-needed jobs and economic opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa."