What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
AGOA Extension Act This bill extends through December 31, 2028, trade preferences that provide duty-free access to the U.S. market for most exports from eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The bill also extends through December 31, 2031, customs user fees and merchandise processing fees. Specifically, the bill extends through 2028 the duty-free treatment of the products of beneficiary SSA countries under the Trade Act of 1974 (specifically, the Generalized System of Preferences) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). (Currently, there are 32 countries eligible for AGOA.) Additionally, the extended period applies to the following provisions of AGOA: (1) the duty-free treatment of certain apparel articles from beneficiary SSA countries; and (2) the third-country fabric provision, which allows limited amounts of apparel articles from lesser developed beneficiary SSA countries to qualify for duty-free treatment, even if the yarns and fabrics used in their production are imported from non-AGOA countries (e.g., apparel assembled in Kenya with Chinese fabrics). The bill also provides for the refund of duties (i.e., liquidation or reliquidation of entries) on articles from eligible SSA countries that entered into the United States after September 30, 2025, and before the date of this bill's enactment. A refund request must be filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and must contain sufficient information for CBP to locate the entry or, if the entry
Vote Breakdown · How Congress voted on HR.6500
House
340-54
PASSED
Independents
340 yea
54 nay
⚠️ 12 members broke with party on this vote
Action Timeline
2026-02-10
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 320.
2026-02-09
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
2026-01-13
Received in the Senate.
2026-01-12
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2026-01-12
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 340 - 54 (Roll no. 14). (text: CR H637)
2026-01-12
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 340 - 54 (Roll no. 14). (text: CR H637)
2026-01-12
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H646)
2026-01-12
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
2026-01-12
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6500.
2026-01-12
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H637-642)
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.6500 pass?
HR.6500 is still alive. Current stage: PASSED_ONE. Pass likelihood: pending.
What does HR.6500 do?
AGOA Extension Act This bill extends through December 31, 2028, trade preferences that provide duty-free access to the U.S. market for most exports from eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The bill also extends through December 31, 2031, customs user fees and merchandise processing fees. Specifically, the bill extends through 2028 the duty-free treatment of the products of beneficiary SSA countries under the Trade Act of 1974 (specifically, the Generalized System of Preferences) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). (Currently, there are 32 countries eligible for AGOA.…
Who sponsored HR.6500?
HR.6500 was sponsored by Jason Smith (R-Missouri).
Who voted against HR.6500?
12 members broke with their party on this vote.
Full Bill Text
119 HR 6500 EH: AGOA Extension Act U.S. House of Representatives text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. IB 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6500 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To extend duty-free treatment provided with respect to imports from certain countries in Africa under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, to extend customs user fees, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the AGOA Extension Act . 2. Extension of preferential treatment for certain countries in Africa under African Growth and Opportunity Act; retroactive application (a) Extension (1) Trade Act of 1974 Section 506B of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2466b ) is amended by striking September 30, 2025 and inserting December 31, 2028 . (2) African Growth and Opportunity Act (A) In general Section 112(g) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act ( 19 U.S.C. 3721(g) ) is amended by striking September 30, 2025 and inserting December 31, 2028 . (B) Regional apparel article program Section 112(b)(3)(A) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act ( 19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(3)(A) ) is amended— (i) in clause (i), by striking 21 succeeding and inserting 24 succeeding ; and (ii) in clause (ii)(II), by striking September 30, 2025 and inserting December 31, 2028 . (C) Third-country fabric program Section 112(c)(1) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act ( 19 U.S.C. 3721(c)(1) ) is amended— (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking september 30, 2025 and inserting december 31, 2028 ; (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking September 30, 2025 and inserting December 31, 2028 ; and (iii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking September 30, 2025 and inserting December 31, 2028 . (b) Retroactive application (1) In general Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff Act of 1930 ( 19 U.S.C. 1514 ) or any other provision of law, and subject to paragraph (2), any entry of a covered article to which duty-free treatment or other preferential treatment under section 506A of the Trade Act of 1974 ( 19 U.S.C. 2466a ) would have applied if the entry had been made on September 30, 2025, that was made— (A) after September 30, 2025, and (B) before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall be liquidated or reliquidated as though such entry occurred on the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Requests A liquidation or reliquidation may be made under paragraph (1) with respect to an entry only if a request therefor is filed with the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act that contains sufficient information to enable such Commissioner— (A) to locate the entry; or (B) to reconstruct the entry if it cannot be located. (3) Payment of amounts owed Any amounts owed by the United States pursuant to the liquidation or reliquidation of an entry of a covered article under paragraph (1) shall be paid, without interest of any kind, not later than 90 days after the date of the liquidation or reliquidation (as the case may be). (4) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Covered article The term covered article means an article from a country that is designated by the President as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under section 104 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act ( 19 U.S.C. 3703 ) as of the day before the date of the enactment of this Act. (B) Entry The term entry includes a withdrawal from warehouse for consumption. 3. Extension of customs user fees (a) In general Section 13031(j)(3) of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 ( 19 U.S.C. 58c(j)(3) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking September 30, 2031 and inserting December 31, 2031 ; and (2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking September 30, 2031 and inserting December 31, 2031 . (b) Rate for merchandise processing fees Section 503 of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act ( 19 U.S.C. 3805 note) is amended by striking September 30, 2031 and inserting December 31, 2031 . Passed the House of Representatives January 12, 2026. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.
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