Agoa.info - African Growth and Opportunity Act
TRALAC - Trade Law Centre
You are here: Home/Trade Profiles/Burundi

Country Info: Burundi

Burundi

Bilateral Trade by Sector: United States - Burundi

Value ('1000 dollars), US 'domestic exports' *, US 'imports for consumption' / Includes year-to-date data

Economic Background

[Note: Burundi is currently suspended from AGOA]

Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. Agriculture accounts for over 40% of GDP and employs more than 90% of the population. Burundi's primary exports are coffee and tea, which account for more than half of foreign exchange earnings, but these earnings are subject to fluctuations in weather and international coffee and tea prices, Burundi is heavily dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as foreign exchange earnings from participation in the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM).

Foreign aid represented 48% of Burundi's national income in 2015, one of the highest percentages in Sub-Saharan Africa, but this figure decreased to 33.5% in 2016 due to political turmoil surrounding President NKURUNZIZA’s bid for a third term. Burundi joined the East African Community (EAC) in 2009.

Burundi faces several underlying weaknesses – low governmental capacity, corruption, a high poverty rate, poor educational levels, a weak legal system, a poor transportation network, and overburdened utilities – that have prevented the implementation of planned economic reforms. The purchasing power of most Burundians has decreased as wage increases have not kept pace with inflation, which reached approximately 18% in 2017.

Real GDP growth dropped precipitously following political events in 2015 and has yet to recover to pre-conflict levels. Continued resistance by donors and the international community will restrict Burundi’s economic growth as the country deals with a large current account deficit.

Agricultural products

cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, plantains, beans, vegetables, potatoes, cashew nuts, maize, taro

Industries

light consumer goods (sugar, shoes, soap, beer); cement, assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing (fruits)

Industrial production growth rate

-2% (2017 est.)

(Source: World Factbook, 2021)

Share this article

Read related news articles

East Africa: New AGOA rules on eligibility and suspension start to apply

Countries qualifying for duty-free access to US markets under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) must adhere to US trade regulations as well as its foreign policy. This is a new rule enacted by the US Congress last year after the renewal of the US-Africa trade partnership for another 10 years. According to EAC Director General of Customs and Trade Peter Kiguta, under the new rule, a country that goes against any of these...

23 January 2016

US boots Burundi from Africa trade pact AGOA

US president Barack Obama announced Friday that Burundi will be ejected from a pact offering African nations much-desired US market access, after the country’s president grabbed a third term in office. In a notification to Congress, Obama said he had taken the step in response to a “continuing crackdown on opposition members, which has included assassinations, extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and torture.” The measure will...

31 October 2015

Text of notification to Congress on Burundi's suspension from AGOA from 2016

In accordance with section 506A(a)(3)(B) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, as amended (AGOA) (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)(B)), I am providing notification of my intent to terminate the designation of the Republic of Burundi (Burundi) as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under AGOA. Message to the Congress -- Notification to the Congress on AGOA Program Change TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES: In accordance with section...

30 October 2015

EAC push for long-term trade pact with US to replace AGOA

The East African Community is pushing for a long-term preferential trade agreement with the United States that will remove uncertainties surrounding the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The five member states have submitted their request to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the modalities and the time to start negotiations on the pact. According to EAC Director General of Customs and Trade Peter Kiguta, the USTR is...

07 September 2015

Burundi: United States urges dialogue, announces additional suspension of assistance

Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza’s continued disregard for the Arusha Agreement has resulted in dozens of deaths, the exodus of over 144,000 Burundians to neighboring countries, and a freefall in the Burundian economy causing suffering to millions of Burundians. The Burundian Government’s decision to push forward with the June 29 parliamentary elections despite the complete absence of the necessary conditions for credible elections...

02 July 2015

East Africa: Technical officials discuss EAC-US trade and investment partnership in Bujumbura

Technical Officials from the East African Community (EAC) and the United States (U.S.) met 12 to 15 February 2014 in Bujumbura, Burundi to discuss Trade Africa and the EAC - U.S. Trade and Investment Partnership (TIP). In particular, the Technical Officials discussed among others, the Ministerial guidance provided in August 2013; AGOA; Regional Investment Treaty; Trade Facilitation; Trade Capacity Building, and Commercial Dialogue. Both...

17 February 2014

Burundi to benefit from AGOA by boosting apparel sector

At first glance Burundi and Ethiopia look like total opposites. Burundi is the smallest country in Africa while Ethiopia is one of the largest. But the two countries have a lot more in common than you might think. Agriculture is the dominant economic sector and both produce high quality specialty coffees. Burundi and Ethiopia are also land locked and face challenges in transporting goods across borders to trade regionally and...

04 December 2013

US Trade Ambassador Marantis begins three-country East Africa visit in Burundi

Today, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis began his three country East Africa visit in Burundi where he met with senior government officials and members of the private sector. Ambassador Marantis met with Second Vice President Gervais Rufyikiri, Commerce Minister Victoire Ndikumana, and other officials who were participating in a conference focused on rooting out corruption in Burundi. The officials discussed the Burundian...

15 October 2012

You are here: Home/Trade Profiles/Burundi