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H.R. 10548House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

To amend the African Growth and Opportunity Act to exclude from eligibility each sub-Saharan African country that does not effectively enforce its environmental laws and fulfill its international environmental obligations.

Sponsored by Lloyd DoggettRep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Introduced September 24, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated September 28, 2026 at 12:51 PM UTC

The bill would change the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) so that any sub‑Saharan African country that does not effectively enforce its own environmental laws or meet its international environmental commitments would lose eligibility for AGOA trade benefits. It also updates related language in the Trade Act of 1974 to tie the environmental requirements to the date the President makes a country’s eligibility designation. The changes affect the eligibility of African nations for preferential U.S. trade treatment.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new eligibility condition to AGOA requiring a country to effectively enforce its environmental laws, regulations, and other legal measures and to fulfill its international environmental and public‑health obligations.
  • Amends the Trade Act of 1974 so that the environmental requirements apply as of the date the President designates a country’s eligibility, rather than the date the original act was enacted.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

September 24, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 24, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

September 24, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 24, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10548

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 24, 2026

Mr. Doggett (for himself, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Horsford) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend the African Growth and Opportunity Act to exclude from eligibility each sub-Saharan African country that does not effectively enforce its environmental laws and fulfill its international environmental obligations.

1.

Enforcement of environmental laws and fulfillment of international environmental obligations

(a)

In general

Section 104 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3703) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (2), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon;

(2)

in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(4)

effectively enforces its environmental laws, regulations, and other legal measures and fulfills its international environmental obligations, including such public health obligations.

.

(b)

Conforming amendment to Trade Act of 1974

Section 506A(a)(1)(A) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1)(A)) is amended by striking as such requirements are in effect on the date of the enactment of that Act and inserting as such requirements are in effect on the date the President makes such designation.