ExecutiveOrdersEO
Proc 9223ProclamationObama · D

Proclamation 9223

To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and for Other Purposes

This proclamation redesignates Guinea-Bissau as an AGOA beneficiary country while terminating South Sudan and The Gambia's AGOA beneficiary status effective January 1, 2015. It also extends duty-free treatment for specified Israeli agricultural products through December 31, 2015, adopts minor technical corrections to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, and fixes a technical error in the U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement tariff implementation.

Federal Register Open PDF 79 FR 78681

Impact dates

  1. Israeli agricultural duty-free access under 2004 Agreement expires

  2. HTS modifications from Annex II effective (30 days after Federal Register publication)

  3. South Sudan and The Gambia AGOA terminations take effect; Israeli agricultural duty-free access begins; Bahrain FTA technical correction effective

Key directives

  • Designate Guinea-Bissau as AGOA beneficiary country
  • Terminate South Sudan AGOA designation effective January 1, 2015
  • Terminate The Gambia AGOA designation effective January 1, 2015
  • Modify HTS to implement Israeli agricultural tariff commitments through December 31, 2015
  • Modify HTS based on USITC Publication 4392 technical recommendations
  • Correct USBFTA technical error in HTS heading 9914.99.20
  • Supersede inconsistent provisions of previous proclamations and Executive Orders

Timeline

Immediate

  • Proclamation signed December 23, 2014

Near term (90d)

  • AGOA status changes take effect January 1, 2015
  • Israeli agricultural duty-free access begins January 1, 2015
  • HTS technical corrections effective January 1, 2015 or 30 days after Federal Register publication

Long term

  • Israeli agricultural agreement expires December 31, 2015 unless renegotiated

Risks & tensions

  • South Sudan and The Gambia lose preferential U.S. market access during periods of significant instability
  • Israeli agricultural extension is temporary; failure to negotiate replacement agreement by end of 2015 could disrupt trade
  • Technical HTS corrections have 'little or no economic effect' per the document, minimizing domestic controversy
Proclamation 9223: To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and for Other Purposes · Executive Orders