This legislation extends the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and its related trade programs, including regional apparel and third-country fabric provisions, from 2025 to 2027 . It also directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to develop a comprehensive strategy within 180 days for expanding trade and investment relationships with AGOA beneficiary countries through bilateral trade agreements. This strategy must identify at least five priority countries and outline criteria for negotiations, such as adherence to AGOA eligibility, capacity for compliance, and respect for democratic governance, rule of law, and human rights. The bill includes a Sense of Congress stating that South Africa's foreign policy actions, particularly regarding China, Russia, and Hamas, undermine U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by deviating from nonalignment. It mandates the President to conduct a full review of the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa. Within 120 days, the President must submit a report detailing the review's findings and provide a public certification on whether South Africa has engaged in activities that undermine U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, along with a justification. Additionally, the legislation requires a classified report within 120 days on senior South African government officials and African National Congress leaders. This report must identify individuals who have engaged in corruption or human rights abuses that would meet the criteria for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act . For each identified person, the report must explain the conduct and either provide an expected timeline for sanctions or a detailed justification for not imposing them.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
International Affairs
AGOA Extension and Bilateral Engagement Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-2958| Senate
| Updated: 9/30/2025
This legislation extends the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and its related trade programs, including regional apparel and third-country fabric provisions, from 2025 to 2027 . It also directs the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to develop a comprehensive strategy within 180 days for expanding trade and investment relationships with AGOA beneficiary countries through bilateral trade agreements. This strategy must identify at least five priority countries and outline criteria for negotiations, such as adherence to AGOA eligibility, capacity for compliance, and respect for democratic governance, rule of law, and human rights. The bill includes a Sense of Congress stating that South Africa's foreign policy actions, particularly regarding China, Russia, and Hamas, undermine U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by deviating from nonalignment. It mandates the President to conduct a full review of the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa. Within 120 days, the President must submit a report detailing the review's findings and provide a public certification on whether South Africa has engaged in activities that undermine U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, along with a justification. Additionally, the legislation requires a classified report within 120 days on senior South African government officials and African National Congress leaders. This report must identify individuals who have engaged in corruption or human rights abuses that would meet the criteria for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act . For each identified person, the report must explain the conduct and either provide an expected timeline for sanctions or a detailed justification for not imposing them.