Africa (Commonwealth) _ Several African ministers and US officials convened in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday for a three-day conference of the US Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade forum. AGOA is a unique US legislation passed into law in 2000 that grants over 40 Sub-Saharan African nations duty-free access to US markets.
Sub-Saharan African nations that qualify for AGOA must, among other things, uphold human rights, adhere to fundamental labor standards, and remove impediments to US trade and investment.
This year’s summit will focus on Partnering to Build a Resilient, Sustainable, and Inclusive AGOA to Support Economic Development, Industrialization, and Quality Job Creation. African leaders are anticipated to persuade US envoys to prolong the AGOA’s mandate, which expires in 2025.
The forum is also anticipated to cover topics such as encouraging inclusive economic growth and supply chain resilience on both sides of the Atlantic. The United States said earlier this week that it will withdraw Uganda, Niger, Gabon, and the Central African Republic from the AGOA due to failure to meet the forum’s qualifying standards.
Officials are “cautiously optimistic” that South Africa will be able to keep its African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) status with the United States as the AGOA Forum begins in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The United States has withdrawn Uganda, Gabon, Niger, and the Central African Republic from AGOA, which provides qualifying African nations with duty-free access to the United States for the majority of their exports. In its yearly eligibility report to Congress, the Biden White House did not include South Africa.
A few hours before the Forum began, President Biden delivered a statement in which he called AGOA a “bedrock” of US-Africa relations and endorsed extension of the trade agreement, which ends in 2025. The summit will be open till November 4, 2023.
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The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) has put steps in place to guarantee that the 20th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum be held in a safe and secure environment. NatJOINTS is a coalition of government agencies led by the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the State Security Agency (SSA).
Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, a police spokeswoman, stated that a safety and security operational plan is already in place, with all important role players on the ground carrying out their individual roles in accordance with their mandate.
President Joe Biden indicated in his statement on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that he firmly supports renewing of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a landmark, bipartisan statute that has served as a foundation for US commerce with Sub-Saharan Africa for more than two decades. I urge Congress to renew AGOA as soon as possible and to modernize this critical Act for economic opportunity.
AGOA promotes private-sector-led economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa by boosting the competitiveness of African products, diversifying African exports, and promoting the creation of tens of thousands of new, high-quality employment. AGOA creates a more competitive environment for US enterprises operating in Sub-Saharan Africa.
America is committed to working quickly with Congress and our African allies to extend this statute beyond 2025 in order to enhance trade links, boost regional integration, and realize Africa’s enormous economic potential for our mutual benefit. In many respects, Africa represents the future, and when Africa thrives, the entire world benefits, according to the statement.
Showing the displeasure over the internal proceedings, this week, the United States removed Uganda, Gabon, Niger, and the Central African Republic from Agoa, which allows qualifying African nation’s duty-free access to the United States for the majority of their exports.
