S. 2958 — AGOA Extension and Bilateral Engagement Act of 2025

This section extends duty-free treatment under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)—which provides preferential access to the U.S. market for eligible sub-Saharan African countries—through September 30, 2027 (from 2025). Specifically, it (1) extends such treatment under the Trade Act of 1974 for beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries and updates the cross-reference for the definition of such countries from section 506A(c) to section 506A(e); (2) extends the AGOA sunset date to 2027; (3) for the regional apparel article program, increases the number of succeeding 1-year periods from 21 to 23 and updates relevant dates to 2027; (4) extends the third-country fabric program through 2027; and (5) makes technical corrections to AGOA cross-references from section 506A(c) to section 506A(e).

This section requires the United States Trade Representative, not later than 180 days after enactment, to submit to specified congressional committees a report outlining a strategy to expand and deepen U.S. trade and investment ties with African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries through bilateral trade agreements or trade and investment framework agreements. The strategy must include (1) an assessment of current U.S. trade and investment flows with those countries; (2) identification of at least five priority countries for negotiations; (3) criteria for country readiness, including adherence to AGOA eligibility requirements (19 U.S.C. 3703), eligibility under 19 U.S.C. 2466a, capacity to meet U.S. agreement obligations, and respect for democratic governance, rule of law, and human rights; and (4) a timeline and work plan for negotiations. In developing the strategy, the Trade Representative must consult the Secretaries of State and Commerce and stakeholders such as U.S. businesses, labor organizations, civil society groups, and African regional economic communities.

This section expresses the sense of Congress that (1) the United States has a national security interest in deterring strategic political and security cooperation and information sharing with China and Russia, particularly any cooperation aiding Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine or its international influence; and (2) the African National Congress's foreign policy no longer reflects nonalignment and favors China, Russia, and Hamas, thereby undermining U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.

This section directs the President, in consultation with the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, and heads of other relevant departments and agencies, to conduct a comprehensive review of the U.S.-South Africa bilateral relationship.

This section requires the President, not later than 120 days after enactment, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report including (1) the findings of the review required by section 202 and (2) a certification—in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense—stating whether South Africa has engaged in activities that undermine U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, along with an unclassified report providing justification (including a classified annex as necessary). The President must publish the certification in unclassified form.

This section directs the President, in consultation with the Secretaries of State and the Treasury, to submit to the appropriate congressional committees, not later than 120 days after the date of enactment, a classified report identifying senior South African government officials and African National Congress leaders who have engaged in corruption or human rights abuses sufficient for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. For each such individual, the report must include (1) a detailed description of the relevant conduct and (2) either an expected timeline for imposing sanctions or a detailed justification, including legal authorities, for not imposing them.