Overview
- Lawmakers approved the extension 340–54, proposing reauthorization through 2028 with restored apparel provisions, third‑country fabric rules, and duty refunds for goods shipped after the September 30, 2025 lapse.
- Attention shifts to the Senate, where a rival bill by Senator John Kennedy seeks a shorter, two‑year renewal with punitive review criteria that could target South Africa’s eligibility.
- South Africa’s trade minister Parks Tau welcomed the House vote as providing needed certainty, saying renewal would support AfCFTA-linked regional value chains and offer relief in the context of US tariffs.
- African manufacturers and officials urged swift Senate passage after the lapse forced exporters to absorb higher costs, including reported 33% tariff increases for some Kenyan goods and pressure on tens of thousands of apparel jobs.
- The World Bank warned that failure to secure renewal threatens export-led growth in highly exposed economies such as Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, and South Africa.