WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

The law › Title 19, Customs Duties › Chapter 23

19 U.S.C. 3721: Treatment of certain textiles and apparel

Created in 2000 by the Trade and Development Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-200). Changed by 8 later laws. 2 new laws this Congress changed it.

4 other sections of the Code cite this one, including 19 U.S.C. 2466a, 19 U.S.C. 2703a, 19 U.S.C. 3722, 19 U.S.C. 4112.

1 part of federal rules cite it as their authority, written by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; Department of the Treasury (1).

This Congress

  • H.R. 6500 Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 · became law · changed (b), (c), (g)
  • H.R. 7148 Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 · became law · changed (b), (c), (g)

How it got here

2020

  • Pub. L. 116–260, §602(a)(1)(A), substituted "Annex 4–B of the USMCA" for "Annex 401 to the NAFTA". (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 116–260, §602(a)(1)(B), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which defined "NAFTA". (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021) Law text · (f)

2015

  • Pub. L. 114–27, §103(b)(2)(A), substituted "21 succeeding" for "11 succeeding". (Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 114–27, §103(b)(2)(B), substituted "September 30, 2025" for "September 30, 2015". (Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 114–27, §103(b)(3)(A), substituted "September 30, 2025" for "September 30, 2015" in heading. (Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015) Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 114–27, §103(b)(3)(B), substituted "September 30, 2025" for "September 30, 2015". (Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015) Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 114–27, §103(b)(3)(C), substituted "September 30, 2025" for "September 30, 2015". (Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015) Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 114–27, §103(b)(1), substituted "September 30, 2025" for "September 30, 2015". (Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015) Law text · (g)

2012

  • Pub. L. 112–163, §1(a)(1), substituted "2015" for "2012" in heading. Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 112–163, §1(a)(2), substituted "2015" for "2012". Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 112–163, §1(a)(3), substituted "2015" for "2012". Law text · (c)

2008

  • Pub. L. 110–436, §3(d), made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 109–432, §6002(a)(2)(B). See 2006 Amendment note below. Law text · (b), (C)
  • Pub. L. 110–436, §3(a)(1), substituted "ethnic" for "ethic" in second sentence. Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 110–436, §3(a)(2)(A), struck out ", and subject to paragraph (2)," after "described in subsection (b)". Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 110–436, §3(a)(2)(B), (C)(ii), redesignated par. (4) as (2) and struck out former par. (2) which provided special rules for products in commercial quantities in Africa. Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 110–436, §3(a)(2)(B), (D), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which provided for removal of designation of fabrics or yarns not available in commercial quantities. Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 110–436, §3(a)(2)(C), substituted "Subsection (b)(3)(B)" for "Subsection (b)(3)(C)" and redesignated par. (4) as (2). Law text · (c)
  • Pub. L. 110–436, §3(a)(2)(D), struck out par. (5) which defined "applicable 1-year period", "Commission", "enter" and "entry", and "lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country". Law text · (c)

2006

  • Pub. L. 109–432, §6002(a)(2)(A), substituted "Subject to subsection (c), the" for "The" in introductory provisions. (Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 109–432, §6002(a)(2)(B), as amended by Pub. L. 110–436, §3(d), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B) and struck out former subpar. (B), which related to extension of preferential treatment though Sept. 30, 2007, for apparel articles wholly assembled, or knit-to-shape and w… (Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006) Law text · (b), (C)
  • Pub. L. 109–432, §6003(1), added subpar. (C). (Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 109–432, §6002(b), added par. (8). (Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 109–432, §6002(a)(1), (3), added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e). (Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006) Law text · (c), (d)
  • Pub. L. 109–432, §6002(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (d) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f). (Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006) Law text · (e)
  • Pub. L. 109–432, §6002(c), substituted "subsections (b) and (c)" for "subsection (b)" in concluding provisions. (Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006) Law text · (e)
  • Pub. L. 109–432, §6002(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (e) as (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (g). (Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006) Law text · (f)
  • Pub. L. 109–432, §6003(2), added par. (5). (Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006) Law text · (f)
  • Pub. L. 109–432, §6004, substituted "2015" for "2008". (Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006) Law text · (g)
  • Pub. L. 109–432, §6002(a)(1), redesignated subsec. (f) as (g). (Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006) Law text · (g)

2004

  • Pub. L. 108–274, §7(b)(1), substituted "or both (including" for "(including". (AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 108–274, §7(b)(2)(A), in introductory provisions, substituted "in the United States or one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, or both" for "either in the United States or one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan … (AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 108–274, §7(b)(2)(B), added subpars. (A) and (B) and struck out headings and text of former subpars. (A) and (B) which set forth differing percentages and time periods applicable to the preferential treatment of imports of apparel articles from beneficiary countries … (AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004) Law text · (b), (B)
  • Pub. L. 108–429 added cl. (iv). (Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 108–274, §7(b)(3), amended heading and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "Apparel articles that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, from fabric or yarn that is no… (AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 108–274, §7(c), amended heading and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "A handloomed, handmade, or folklore article of a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country or countries that is certified as such by the competent authority of such beneficiary count… (AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 108–274, §7(d), inserted "or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries" after "and one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries" in two places. (AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 108–274, §7(e)(2), inserted "or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries" after "countries" and substituted "10 percent" for "7 percent". (AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004) Law text · (d)
  • Pub. L. 108–274, §7(e)(1), added par. (3). (AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004) Law text · (d)
  • Pub. L. 108–274, §7(f), added par. (4). (AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004) Law text · (e)

2002

  • Pub. L. 107–210, §3108(a)(1), substituted "Apparel articles assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries" for "Apparel articles assembled in beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries" in heading and amended introductory provisions generally. Prior to amendment,… (Trade Act of 2002) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 107–210, §3108(a)(2), substituted "Other apparel articles assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries" for "Apparel articles cut and assembled in beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries" in heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text… (Trade Act of 2002) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 107–210, §3108(a)(3)(A), substituted "Apparel articles from regional fabric or yarns" for "Apparel articles assembled from regional and other fabric" in heading and amended introductory provisions generally. Prior to amendment, introductory provisions read as follows: "Appar… (Trade Act of 2002) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 107–210, §3108(a)(3)(B), amended heading and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: (Trade Act of 2002) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 107–210, §3108(a)(4), substituted "21.5 microns" for "18.5 microns". (Trade Act of 2002) Law text · (b)
  • Pub. L. 107–210, §3108(a)(5), added par. (7). (Trade Act of 2002) Law text · (b)

Text, outline and history from the official U.S. Code (2024 edition) on GovInfo, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Changes made after that edition appear under This Congress.