APPAREL AND TEXTILES PRODUCTS AGOA ELIGIBLE
For a couple of years, the World Fashion Industry is unanimous on the fact that Africa is the number one source for Apparel and Textile products. It is great to have the opportunity to make the people living in the United States discover African Textile products, handmade bags, interior design with unique and original patterns, etc through AGOA. Like Music, Fashion has the easy way to promote culture and its universal values. The articles that AGOA countries with Apparel benefits can export to the US are divided in 10 groups. These countries are required to establish the ”AGOA Visa” in order to prevent transshipment.
As We are aware Apparel industry is an important source of employment and its make sense to contribute to job creation, poverty eradication and development by giving the opportunity to the citizens of Eligible countries to promote their ”Made in…” and not encourage people / companies looking for the AGOA benefits by shipping their production in Eligible countries for duty free, quota free exports under AGOA.
WHAT ARE THE AGOA ELIGIBLE ARTICLES (APPAREL AND TEXTILE PRODUCTS)?
In the eyes of the law, Apparel and Textile products that can be exported to the United States of America under AGOA IV are divided in 10 groups:
In addition to these categories, AGOA provides preferential treatment for articles like Footwear, Luggage, Handbags, Watches and Flatware. Click Here for the AGOA Products List.
WHAT DOES THE CATEGORY 0 MEANS?
To this question the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) said the AGOA IV expanded the AGOA benefits to Textile articles originating entirely in one or more lesser developped beneficiary Sub-Saharan Countries. And these countries under this provision can export articles like fibers, yarns, fabrics, made-up goods (towels, sheets, blankets, floor coverings for interior design). These articles will be implemented by incorporation into the AGOA Visa Arrangement.
WHAT ABOUT CATEGORY 9?
Category 9 is about apparels that are:
So they are divided into four main sub-categories. To benefit from this specific AGOA Category, the AGOA Country must have in place or must be working on the AGOA Export Visa. Then they can start the negociations with the United States Committee of Textile Agreements in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection which have the power to determine the apparel and textile products qualified for Category 9 Certification.
After this step, the AGOA Country will have to create a Product Catalogue with historical or contemporary references for each article / product and specify its name, a sample and a picture, how it was manufactured, the type of fiber used, the dimensions, the fabric used as well as the patterns and colors.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
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