Comments to USTR on the Modernization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

The Council submitted comments to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on trade policy recommendations to modernize the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)—a non-reciprocal trade preference program that provides eligible Sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for qualifying goods.

The Council’s comments focus on one strategically urgent dimension: how AGOA should be modified to improve the resilience of the U.S. supply chain for critical minerals. Critical mineral inputs power advanced energy technologies, manufacturing, and defense equipment. Without reform, U.S. firms remain exposed to supply disruption and price manipulation.