17th AGOA Forum July 9-12, 2018, in Washington D.C.
AGOA Forum 2018 readouts and communiqués [See Forum Downloads]
Official Website of the AGOA CSO Network
Official Website of the AGOA Private Sector (CCA)
Official Website of the AGOA Diaspora Roundtable (Leon Sullivan Foundation)
Official Website of the US Department of State
Civil Society / AWEP Agenda
Civil Society / AWEP Readout
Civil Society / Solidarity Center Agenda Civil Society / Solidarity Center Readout
Private Sector Agenda
Private Sector Readout
Ministerial Forum Agenda
African Ministers Consultative Forum Readout
For previous AGOA Forum details, agendas and outcomes, please scroll to the bottom of this page.
View a selection of related documents
View related news articles
South Africa: 'Not time to be inward-looking'
Spare a thought for Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, who will have a tough job convincing the US not to impose possible export duties on vehicle and component exports. He has already lost the battle to have SA excluded from US President Donald Trump’s tit-for-tat trade war with China, with duties imposed on steel and aluminium. With vehicles and components, however, the stakes are higher. Of all the sectors Davies’s department...
18 July 2018
US duties to knock South Africa's AGOA exports
South Africa has raised its concern with the US government about possible duties on vehicle and vehicle component imports, pointing out that their imposition on South African exports would significantly erode the benefit the country is meant to enjoy under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). Following its decision to impose import duties on steel (25%) and aluminium (10%), the US decided to investigate whether it should do likewise...
16 July 2018
South Africa: AGOA remains critical in developing regional value chains in Africa
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies participated in the opening day of the 17th Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum being held in Washington DC from 11-12 July 2018 under the theme “Forging New Strategies for US-African Trade”. The Forum was preceded by the Africa Trade Ministers Consultative Meeting on 10 July 2018. In their remarks to the Forum, the African Ministers emphasised the strategic importance of the...
13 July 2018
Statement of USTR Robert Lighthizer at the opening plenary of the 2018
Welcome to this year’s AGOA Forum. I am pleased to be with you all this morning. The theme for this AGOA Forum is “Forging New Strategies for U.S. – Africa Trade and Investment.” I’d like to spend my time with you addressing one very specific new strategy—the Trump Administration’s desire to negotiate a model free trade agreement with a sub-Saharan African country. It has long been the desire of...
11 July 2018
Remarks by Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan at the AGOA Forum
DEPUTY SECRETARY SULLIVAN: Thank you, Robert, for that kind introduction, and good morning, everyone. It’s a pleasure to be with you this morning. On behalf of Secretary Pompeo, I’m honored to welcome you to the State Department. And on behalf of the United States Government, I’m delighted to open the 17th annual Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum. Before I proceed, I’d like to recognize our distinguished...
11 July 2018
US State Dept: Forging new strategies for US-Africa trade and investment
This year the U.S Department of State is proud to host the 17th annual African Growth and Opportunities Act Forum, commonly known as AGOA, from July 11-12 in Washington, DC. This year's theme "Forging New Strategies for U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment," reflects the U.S. commitment to boosting economic growth, spurring development, and reducing poverty in Africa through sustainable business practices and mutually...
11 July 2018
US to initiate ‘exploratory talks’ on post-AGOA model at AGOA Forum
United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer will use this week’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) Forum in Washington DC to initiate “exploratory talks” with African governments on a possible trade model that could be implemented when the unilateral programme expires in 2025. Assistant US Trade Representative for Africa Connie Hamilton said on Monday that Lighthizer aimed...
10 July 2018
Trade and industry minister leads SA delegation to AGOA Forum
Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies leaves on Sunday night for Washington DC in the United States for the 17th Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) forum from July 11 to 12, the trade and industry department (DTI) said. The Agoa forum took place annually on an alternating basis between sub-Saharan Africa and the US. The 16th forum was hosted by Togo in August last year, the DTI said in a statement. The theme for this...
09 July 2018
The 2018 AGOA Forum: A turning point for US-Africa commercial relations?
The 2018 AGOA Forum —named for the African Growth and Opportunity Act passed in 2000 and extended three years ago to 2025—could be a turning point in U.S.-African commercial relations. AGOA abolished import duties on more than 1,800 products manufactured in eligible countries sub-Saharan Africa (those with established or making continuous progress with market-based economy, rule of law and pluralism, elimination of trade and...
06 July 2018
US-Sub-Saharan Africa AGOA Forum 2018 [includes document downloads]
The 17th United States - Sub-Saharan Africa AGOA Forum is set to take place in Washington D.C. in the week beginning 9 July 2018. Visit the AGOA.info AGOA Forum Section for additional details, which will be made available as soon as they are available. Some of the agenda documents will be draft documents and will be updated regularly. For background information on the AGOA Forum, read here. AGOA.info's AGOA Forum Section is...
08 June 2018