United States President Donald Trump has issued a new presidential proclamation to implement provisions of the newly enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026. This proclamation includes vital modifications and timeline extensions for trade incentives benefiting various developing nations, most notably the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Under this new decree, duty-free trade treatment provided to beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries will remain in effect through December 31, 2026. This extension encompasses both the regional apparel article program and the third-country fabric program, which are critical to the continent’s textile export sector.
The most significant geopolitical development in this proclamation is the reinstatement of the Gabonese Republic (Gabon) into the AGOA program. Gabon was previously stripped of its beneficiary status under Presidential Proclamation 10692 in December 2023, after failing to meet the program’s strict eligibility criteria.
However, according to the latest statement, the Government of Gabon has taken successful policy reforms and corrective actions, enabling the country to meet the statutory requirements established under the Trade Act. Consequently, President Trump has designated Gabon as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country once again, with the reinstatement taking effect retroactively from January 1, 2026. This decision reopens the doors for Gabon to export products duty-free to the lucrative U.S. market.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act aims to foster economic growth, strengthen trade ties, and encourage market-based economies, the rule of law, and human rights across sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition to African nations, the proclamation places a strong emphasis on the Caribbean region, particularly Haiti. The preferential trade benefits provided under the Haiti Economic Lift Program—part of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA)—have been extended through December 31, 2026.
The decree maintains duty-free treatment for apparel imported from Haiti while adjusting the applicable package percentage limits. This decision provides critical economic relief for Haiti’s garment manufacturing industry, offering market stability and protecting local jobs amidst the country’s ongoing political and economic challenges.
The proclamation mandates several legal and technical adjustments to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Notably, it features a technical amendment (Annex II) designed to clean up decades-old text. This resolves clerical omissions dating back to AGOA extensions in 2011 and 2015, where conforming language was never properly integrated into the HTSUS.
President Trump has authorized and directed all executive departments and agencies to take all appropriate measures within their authority to implement the proclamation. The United States Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. International Trade Commission, will determine if further modifications to the HTSUS are required and will publish any future corrections via the Federal Register.
