House Trade Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Trade with Sub-Saharan Africa and the AGOA Acceleration Act
The House Ways and Means Committee has issued an advisory stating that its Subcommittee on Trade will hold a hearing on April 29, 2004 on trade with sub-Saharan Africa and H.R. 4103, the "African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Acceleration Act of 2004" (also known as AGOA III).
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Hearing to Focus on Current AGOA Law and the AGOA Acceleration Act
According to the advisory, the hearing will focus on the impact of the current AGOA law on trade and development in Africa and ways that Congress can correct interpretive problems in the law, encourage infrastructure improvements, and generally accelerate the goals of the program. In addition, the hearing will explore H.R. 4103, the AGOA Acceleration Act, which was introduced on April 1, 2004.
The Subcommittee expects several issues related to these broad themes to be discussed at the hearing, including (partial list): (1) overview of the U.S. and African textile and apparel industries and AGOA's effect on them; (2) H.R. 4103's proposed extension of the AGOA program to 2015; (3) H.R 4103's proposed three year extension of the third-country fabric provision set to expire September 30, 2004; and (4) impact of the expiration of global quotas on African textiles and apparel developments. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/06/04 news, 04040605, for BP summary of H.R. 4103.)
Written Statements Due by May 4, 2004
The advisory explains that written statements may be submitted in lieu of a personal appearance at the hearing. Such statements should be sent electronically, along with a faxed copy, by the close of business on May 4, 2004. (See advisory for details on submitting a request to testify at the hearing.)
Advisory TR-4 (dated 04/20/04) available at http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=1374