Summary: African countries seek extension of duty-free access to U.S markets
What we know
- US trade officials are meeting some African leaders and officials for the US Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade forum in Johannesburg South Africa on Thursday.
- The U.S. trade representative Ambassador Katherine Tai and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Joy Basu will be among the officials meeting to deliberate on issues including the extension of the US program allowing sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to US markets.
- The forum is happening days after US President Joe Biden announced his intention to terminate the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program benefits for four African countries, Gabon, Niger, Central African Republic, and Uganda.
- The US had cited Niger and Gabon for failing to make progress with the protection of political pluralism and the rule of law and the Central African Republic and Uganda for committing gross violations of internationally recognized human rights despite earlier engagements.
What they said
US President Joe Biden had said in a letter addressed to Congress members that Niger, Uganda, Central African Republic and Gabon had failed to address concerns about their "noncompliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria" following earlier engagements. International Relations Expert, Professor John Stremlau told Africanews that “We absolutely expect African countries benefitting from AGOA to push for its extension because they have seen real benefits, even though some have benefitted more than others". Uganda's government spokesman Ofwono Opondo has dismissed the expected development impact on Uganda.
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