The Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART) has welcomed the U.S. House of Representatives’ bipartisan passage of legislation to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for one year, citing the measure’s importance for U.S. exporters, global textile reuse markets and trade relationships with African partner countries.
The legislation was passed on 12 January by a vote of 340–54, signalling broad cross-party support for maintaining predictable and open trade arrangements. For the textile reuse sector, the extension provides short-term certainty as Congress considers longer-term approaches to U.S.–Africa trade.
“This is an important and positive step for U.S. textile reuse exporters, and the millions of workers and consumers supported by global reuse markets,” said Jessica Franken, SMART’s Vice President of Government and External Affairs. “AGOA plays a critical role in preserving duty-free access for U.S. exports, including secondhand clothing, while reinforcing fair and transparent trade rules with our partners.”
AGOA has long underpinned U.S. exports of secondhand clothing and other recycled textile products by ensuring continued access to key African markets. For companies operating in reuse and recycling, duty-free treatment under the programme supports U.S. jobs, strengthens international supply chains and helps advance environmental and economic sustainability by extending the useful life of textiles.
SMART noted that the House vote sends a strong signal to trading partners and industry stakeholders at a time when certainty is particularly valued across global markets. The association has consistently highlighted the role of reuse and recycling in reducing waste and supporting circular economy outcomes, both domestically and internationally.
The bill will now move to the U.S. Senate for consideration, where its progress will be closely watched by exporters and policymakers alike. “SMART looks forward to working with policymakers to ensure timely Senate consideration and to advocate for longer-term trade certainty for the textile reuse industry,” Franken added.
