Duty Free Access-AGOA
All Sub-Saharan countries where Bilcotex operates are AGOA eligible and qualify for the Third Country Fabric Provision. All can access the EU countries duty free.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a United States Trade Act, enacted on 18 May 2000. AGOA has since been renewed to 2025. The legislation significantly enhances market access to the US for qualifying Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.
Qualification for AGOA preferences is based on a set of conditions contained in the AGOA legislation. In order to qualify and remain eligible for AGOA, each country must be working to improve its rule of law, human rights, and respect for core labor standards.
The Third Country Fabric provision is unique in that it grants duty free access to the US market to countries defined by the legislation as “lesser developed”, even if fabric is imported from any other part of the world.
Duty-free access to the U.S. market under the combined AGOA program stands at approximately 8,000 product tariff lines.
After completing its initial 15-year period of validity, the AGOA legislation was extended on 29 June 2015 by a further 10 years, to 2025.