AGOA
The US and Kenya are expected to announce negotiations on a free-trade agreement, America’s first such deal with a sub-Saharan country.
The following communication is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of the United States.
The African Union prefers a continent-wide deal with the US while the US wants bilateral deals when AGOA expires.
The US-Africa Strategy seeks to re-position the US and bring it to par with China and Russia.
United States Trade Representative and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade and Cooperatives announced the establishment of a US-Kenya Trade and Investment Working Group to explore ways to deepen the trade and investment ties between the two countries.
The United States wants to pave the way for a free trade agreement between Washington and sub-Saharan African countries.
USTR Robert Lighthizer believes the time is right to pursue free trade agreement negotiations with AGOA eligible countries.
Kenya’s trade officials have said they will be taking steps to expand exports and raise the country’s share of new investments during the second edition of Trade Week at the end of this month.
The US hopes to build on AGOA’s success by strengthening bilateral trade relationships in sub-Saharan Africa with the goal of establishing a free trade agreement that could serve as a model for developing countries.
Despite having several trade and investment agreements from 1975, the inability for Africa to build substantial productive capacity has in effect rendered the continent a net importer, unable to meet even its own food requirements.
It is not clear whether the U.S. wants to change the AGOA deal before it expires in 2025 or extend it further - no decision was made on either count.
A more balanced trading relationship is vital in order to maintain support in Congress for AGOA, which allows for duty-free treatment of goods from eligible Sub-Saharan African countries, Lighthizer said.
With the Trump administration’s trade agenda focused on reining in China and renegotiating the North American Free Trade agreement, Africa has barely appeared on the radar screen.
The Trump Administration has signalled its impatience to replace the AGOA preferential trade deal with Africa with normal two-way free trade agreements.
US Commerce Secretary delivered a tough message to African countries, urging them to strike bilateral trade deals with the United States and warning that the Trump administration would closely monitor their compliance with eligibility rules under the African Growth and Opportunity Act
As the EU-SADC’s economic partnership agreement takes effect, the Obama administration has raised concerns that US companies have been left at a competitive disadvantage.
The short congressional session won’t be a total dead period for trade policy as the House is set to take up a bill today to enhance the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
L’association sud-africaine des importateurs et exportateurs de viande (AMIESA) est prête à recevoir plus de 60 000 tonnes de volailles en provenance des USA.
South Africa has resolved a trade row with the US which threatened to throw South Africa out of its preferential trade programme over its refusal to allow the importation of American chickens.
The trade and industry minister insists SA will continue talks over the African Growth and Opportunity Act and it is for the US to "blow the whistle".
