U.S.-Africa trade programme must be more than 'symbolic' -U.S. trade chief
By Joe Bavier
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -The United States is looking for a «more useful and effective» trade programme with Africa, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Saturday, as talks are underway to update a two decade-old duty free initiative.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants exports from qualifying countries duty-free access to the U.S. market, is due to expire in September 2025, with talks focused on renewal and possible reform.
AGOA was reauthorised twice before — in 2004 and 2015 — and Tai is in Johannesburg, South Africa, wrapping up three days of talks with African trade ministers over the programme's future and a possible third reauthorisation.
«We would like to see this programme be more than just a symbolic one. We would like for it to be more useful and effective,» Tai told journalists.
Over $10 billion worth of African exports entered the United States duty free last year under the programme. However, in many areas AGOA, which was launched in 2000, has failed to live up to its promise.
Despite longstanding bipartisan support from U.S. lawmakers, who view AGOA as critical to countering the influence of China in Africa, there are divisions in Washington over the need for updates.
African countries, concerned that too many changes could bog renewal down in Congress, are pushing for an early 10-year extension. They say improvements can be made once the programme is reauthorised.
But the Biden administration wants changes as part of a renewal.
«I don't quite know how you would enhance it without doing it in the statute,» Tai said.
A revised AGOA should aim to improve the programme's utilisation by qualifying countries and take into account the recent creation of the
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