Statement from Ambassador Jamieson Greer on the Reauthorization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act - USTR
February 03, 2026
WASHINGTON – Today, President Trump signed into law legislation that reauthorizes the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program through December 31, 2026, with retroactive effect to September 30, 2025.
“AGOA for the 21st century must demand more from our trading partners and yield more market access for U.S. businesses, farmers, and ranchers to build upon the benefits it has historically provided to Africa and the United States,” said Ambassador Greer. “We must also make sure that the program enhances U.S.-Africa trade and will work with Congress over the next year to modernize the program to align with President Trump’s America First Trade Policy.”
In the coming days, USTR will work with relevant agencies to give effect to any modifications made to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States as a result of the legislation reauthorizing AGOA.
Background:
AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 1,800 products, in addition to the more than 5,000 products that are eligible for duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences program.
To meet AGOA’s rigorous eligibility requirements, countries must establish or make continual progress toward establishing a market-based economy, the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process. Additionally, countries must eliminate barriers to U.S. trade and investment, enact policies to reduce poverty, combat corruption, and protect human rights.
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Establishing the Gordie Howe International Bridge as a Port of Entry in Detroit, MI - Federal Register
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: This rule establishes the Gordie Howe International Bridge border crossing as a Class A port of entry for immigration purposes and as part of the port of Detroit for customs purposes. Establishing the Gordie Howe International Bridge border crossing is part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) continuing program to use its personnel, facilities, and resources more efficiently and to provide better service to carriers, importers, and the general public.
DATES: This final rule is effective March 2, 2026. CBP will notify the public when the Gordie Howe International Bridge border crossing is fully operational and open to the public for use through a notice published on the CBP website.
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FDA Launches PreCheck Pilot Program to Strengthen Domestic Pharmaceutical Manufacturing - FDA
Agency Now Accepting Requests to Participate in Initiative to Enhance Regulatory Predictability and Streamline New Manufacturing Facility Assessment
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today began accepting requests to participate in the FDA PreCheck pilot program. FDA PreCheck is designed to strengthen the domestic pharmaceutical supply chain by increasing regulatory predictability, facilitating the construction of manufacturing sites in the U.S., and streamlining aspects of pharmaceutical manufacturing facility assessments in advance of a specific product application.
"After 35 years of globalists taking pharmaceutical manufacturing overseas, the FDA is taking bold steps to bring it back," said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. "The PreCheck program is one of several powerful incentives we are providing to make the U.S. pharmaceutical manufacturing sector more resilient and competitive."
The agency will select an initial cohort of new pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities and begin conducting PreCheck activities in 2026. Facilities will be selected based on overall alignment with national priorities across multiple selection criteria, such as products to be manufactured, phase of facility development, timeline to producing pharmaceutical products for the U.S. market, and innovation in facility development. Additional priority consideration will be given to facilities producing critical medications for the U.S. market.
The FDA incorporated extensive industry feedback into the program design based on comments made during the "Onshoring Manufacturing of Drugs and Biological Products" public meeting held on Sept. 30, 2025, and public comments received through Federal Register publication. Industry strongly supported early engagement during facility development and streamlined documentation processes.
FDA PreCheck consists of two phases. In Phase 1, the Facility Readiness Phase, selected manufacturers will engage with FDA for early technical advice before a facility is operational through pre-operational reviews and utilization of a facility-specific Drug Master File to facilitate efficient evaluation of facility-specific elements prior to, and in support of, the submission of a drug application. In Phase 2, the Application Submission Phase, FDA and applicants build upon Phase 1 and engage through pre-submission meetings and inspections to resolve issues and expedite assessments of manufacturing information in a drug application.
For more information, including eligibility and selection criteria, visit the FDA PreCheck web page.
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Federal Register Notices:
• Procedures for Submissions by Importers of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Qualifying for Preferential Tariff Treatment Under the USMCA To Determine U.S. Content
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Advance Notification of Sunset Review
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review and Join Annual Inquiry Service List
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Crepe Paper From China; Institution of a Five-Year Review
• Hand Trucks and Certain Parts Thereof From China; Institution of a Five-Year Review
• Fatty Acids From Indonesia and Malaysia; Institution of Antidumping and Countervailing Corrosion Inhibitors From China; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Difluoromethane (R-32) From China; Institution of a Five-Year Review
• Certain Preserved Mushrooms From Chile, China, India, and Indonesia; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Large Vertical Shaft Engines From China; Institution of Five-Year Reviews
• Van-Type Trailers and Subassemblies From Canada, China, and Mexico; Revised Schedule for the Subject Investigation
• Acetone From Belgium, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, and Spain; Determinations
• Certain Medical Imaging Devices; Notice of Institution of Investigation
• Certain Photodynamic Therapy Systems, Components Thereof, and Pharmaceutical Products Used in Combination With the Same; Notice of a Commission Determination To Review in Part a Final Initial Determination Finding a Violation of Section 337; Request for Written Submissions on Remedy, the Public Interest, and Bonding
• Certain Rechargeable Batteries and Components Thereof; Notice of a Commission Determination To Issue a Limited Exclusion Order; Termination of Investigation
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Finished Carbon Steel Flanges From India: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2023
• Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe From the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders
• Sales at Less Than Fair Value; Determinations, Investigations, etc.: Certain Monomers and Oligomers From Taiwan: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Final Affirmative Critical Circumstances Determination
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Sheet From South Korea; Termination of Five-Year Review
• Oil Country Tubular Goods From India, South Korea, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam; Notice of Commission Determination To Conduct Full Five-Year Reviews
• Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Certain Semiconductor Devices and Products Containing the Same; Notice of a Commission Determination To Review in Part a Final Initial Determination Finding a Violation; Request for Written Submissions on Remedy, the Public Interest, and Bonding
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Oleoresin Paprika From India: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, Preliminary Affirmative Critical Circumstances Determination, In Part, and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
• Collated Steel Staples From the People's Republic of China: Continuation of Antidumping Duty Order and Countervailing Duty Order
• Acetone From Belgium, Singapore, the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of South Korea, and Spain: Continuation of Antidumping Duty Orders
• Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Float Glass Products From China and Malaysia; Cancellation of Hearing for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations
• Fiberglass Door Panels From China; Scheduling of the Final Phase of Countervailing Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations
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Sanctioning Iranian Government Officials for Suppression of Peaceful Protest - U.S, Department of State
Today (1/30/26), the United States is imposing sanctions on Iranian officials responsible for the recent brutal crackdown on their own people. As the Iranian people protest 47 years of catastrophic economic mismanagement, the regime continues to choose funding terrorist militias abroad and its vast weapons programs over the basic needs of everyday Iranians. The people of Iran suffer from rising inflation, crumbling infrastructure, and shortages of water and electricity because the regime is squandering their wealth on its malign activities.
The United States supports the Iranian people in their protests against the corrupt and repressive regime in Tehran. We are designating six Iranian officials who oversee the Iranian security forces responsible for the violent crackdowns on protesters, as well as an Iranian investor who embezzled billions in funds from the Iranian people.
The United States will continue to implement National Security Presidential Memorandum 2, which directs the imposition of maximum pressure on the Iranian regime to deprive it of revenues that fund its destabilizing and malign activities.
Today’s action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13553, which authorizes sanctions on certain persons with respect to serious human rights abuses by the Government of Iran; E.O. 13224, a counterterrorism authority; and E.O. 13902, which targets Iran’s financial, petroleum, and petrochemical sectors. For more information on today’s action, please see the Department of the Treasury’s press release
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Ambassador Greer Signs the United States-Guatemala Agreement on Reciprocal Trade - USTR
WASHINGTON – Today, (1/30/26) United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer joined Guatemala’s Minister of Economy Adriana Gabriela Garcia in signing the United States–Guatemala Agreement on Reciprocal Trade.
“President Trump’s leadership is forging a new direction for trade that promotes partnership and prosperity in Latin America, further strengthening the American economy, supporting American workers, and protecting our national security interests,” said Ambassador Greer. “Today’s signing of another Agreement on Reciprocal Trade in the Western Hemisphere addresses trade barriers facing American workers and producers, expands and solidifies markets for U.S. exports, and strengthens strategic economic ties in the Western Hemisphere. I want to recognize Guatemala for its strong commitment to reciprocal trade with the United States. This Agreement builds on our long-standing trade relationship and shared interest in reinforcing regional supply chains.”
To read the text of the Agreement between the United States of America and Guatemala on Reciprocal Trade, click here.
To read the Joint Statement on Framework for United States-Guatemala Agreement on Reciprocal Trade, click here.
To read the Fact Sheet, click here.
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Customs Bulletin Weekly, Vol. 60, February 04, 2026, No. 05
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Amazon Refunds - Federal Trade Commission
The FTC is not contacting people about refunds in the Amazon matter. If you get a call from someone who claims to be from the FTC, it’s a scam. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. And no one from Amazon will ever ask you for money to get a refund. Only scammers say they can get you special access or a guaranteed refund.
As the result of the Trump-Vance FTC’s historic $2.5 billion settlement, Amazon began sending claim notices to eligible Prime customers in January 2026.
If you need help with your claim form, please contact Amazon at
admin@SubscriptionMembershipSettlement.com.
What was the lawsuit about?