Africa, Haiti Import Program Renewal Bills Passed by House

The House passed two measures Monday to renew duty-free trade preference programs for clothing, textiles, and other select goods imported from Haiti and more than 30 sub-Saharan African countries that lapsed last September.

The chamber voted 340-54 for a bill (H.R. 6500; BGOV Bill Analysis) to reauthorize the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act program. It passed another bill (H.R. 6504; BGOV Bill Analysis) to renew the HOPE/HELP Haiti trade programs by a 345-45 vote.

The bills, which now head to the Senate, would renew the programs through Dec. 31, 2028. They were last reauthorized …