The head of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) on August 4, 2014 renewed calls for swift action to renew the expiring African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). In a letter sent on August 4, 2014 to President Barack Obama on the eve of a historic African leaders summit, AAFA president and CEO Juanita D. Duggan urged the President to support renewal along four key principles.
These four principles include:
Immediate renewal
Long term renewal
Long term extension of flexible rules of origin
Application of flexible rules of origin to all countries.
“I know you share our belief that the time is now to strengthen and expand trade and investment linkages with Africa,” Duggan wrote. “Swiftly renewing AGOA along these four principles will create a sustainable U.S./African trade partnership that will benefit Americans and Africans for decades to come.”