Biden administration to remove four African nations from AGOA
Biden administration to remove four African nations from AGOA
BNN | 14th December 2023
By Nasiru Eneji Abdulrasheed
In a significant policy shift, the Biden administration has announced the removal of Niger, Gabon, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Uganda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) effective January 2024. The AGOA, a US initiative, offers selected African nations the privilege of exporting designated goods to the United States duty-free, aiming to foster trade and economic growth in those countries.
The decision to exclude these countries is rooted in their recent political shifts and policies. Niger, Gabon, and the CAR have found themselves in the crosshairs due to their adoption of anti-western authoritarian regimes.
These regimes stand in stark opposition to the democratic principles promoted by the AGOA. In the case of Uganda, its removal is attributed to its policies against homosexuality, which are in conflict with the human rights standards upheld by the United States.
Financial Implications for the Excluded Nations
The implications of this move could be significant for the economies of these nations.
To illustrate the potential impact, consider Niger, which exported goods worth $73 million to the US in 2022 under the AGOA program. Losing this preferential trade treatment could deal a substantial blow to the nation’s economy.
