Agoa.info - African Growth and Opportunity Act
TRALAC - Trade Law Centre
You are here: Home/News/Article/US urges Swaziland to review terrorism law as precondition for AGOA readmission

US urges Swaziland to review terrorism law as precondition for AGOA readmission

US urges Swaziland to review terrorism law as precondition for AGOA readmission
Construction work at the new Swaziland Convention Center
Published date:
Wednesday, 05 July 2017
Source:
Journal de Cameroun

The United States has asked Swaziland to redefine ‘Terrorism Act’ before it could be reconsidered for the African Growth Opportunity Agreement (AGOA).

This was stated by Prime Minister Banarbas Dlamini when giving feedback to Senate Portfolio Committee in Parliament during the debate of the Suppression of Terrorism Amendment Bill No. 10 of 2010 on Wednesday.

The premier said during the discussion of the bill with the Americans and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) it transpired that the initial definition needed to be reviewed.

“We requested the Attorney General to come up with a new definition after the Americans expressed dissatisfaction about the definition. While we were concerned with national interest, the Americans differed as they felt that the tern ‘national interest’ was very broad,” he said.

The head of government circulated a document that proposes the new definition to be ‘act of terrorism’ where it was said that the new definition will ensure that the provision is not unduly stretched to cover activities which are not otherwise terrorist acts.

Senate President Ngoma Gamedze cautioned senators that it was okay to agree on certain things but there was a need to not create an impression that they were only just stamping what had already been decided by the Americans.

Read related news articles

Time for Eswatini's entrepreneurs to seize AGOA opportunities

The time has come for young emaSwati entrepreneurs to seize opportunities to manufacture basic every day consumer products for export to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The main drive is to get emaSwati to manufacture products locally, sell locally, regionally and internationally using the various initiatives made available by government.  Eswatini’s economy is at a crossroads. While the country boasts a...

13 February 2024

AGOA eligibility update: What it could mean for US-Africa relations amid global power shifts

The United States’ recent modifications to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) signal a significant shift in its trade relations with Africa, intertwined with broader geopolitical implications and the emerging contest for influence on the continent. Experts weigh in. [AGOA.info note: The 'modifications' relate to the list of AGOA beneficiaries, with four countries losing their AGOA beneficiary status, and one re-gaining, effective...

12 January 2024

'Can Uganda wiggle out of AGOA puzzle?'

Uganda faces the possibility of being removed from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beneficiary states thanks in no small part to what the United States calls human rights violations. This comes hot on the heels of the recent enactment of anti- homosexuality legislation in Uganda. The programme offers duty-free access to the world’s largest economy for Sub-Saharan African countries that meet democratic criteria, which is...

12 November 2023

Uganda criticises US plan to exclude it from duty-free trade programme

Uganda on Wednesday criticised a US move to eject it and other African countries from accessing a tariff-free trade programme, saying the action was to punish African countries that are resisting the imposition of the West's cultural values. US President Joe Biden said on Monday that he intended to end the participation of Uganda, Gabon, Niger and the Central African Republic in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade...

05 November 2023

Statement from USTR Tai on the AGOA eligibility review, Mauritania to be reinstated

President Biden decided to reinstate African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program benefits for one country, Mauritania, and to terminate benefits for four countries – Gabon, Niger, the Central African Republic, and Uganda – effective January 1, 2024. Based on the results of the annual AGOA eligibility review, Mauritania’s eligibility will be reinstated based on progress that it has made with respect to the 2019...

31 October 2023

Notice of intention to terminate AGOA preferences for Uganda, Gabon, Niger and the Central African Republic, reinstate Mauritania

Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Madam President:) In accordance with section 506A(a)(3)(B) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)(B)), I am providing advance notification of my intent to terminate the designation of the Central African Republic, the Gabonese Republic (Gabon), Niger, and the Republic of Uganda (Uganda) as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). I...

31 October 2023

Eswatini exports 26 thousand tons of sugar to the US

About 26 535 tonnes of sugar is shipped yearly to the Unites States of America through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Eswatini Sugar Association (ESA) Logistics Manager, Sibusiso Hlandze said the local sugar was exported  to a terminal in Maputo, Mozambique. He said the terminal,called the Sociedade Terminal De Acucar De Maputo (STAM), played a significant role in the country's sugar industry. It is owned by four sugar...

22 August 2023

Eswatini's AGOA exports at over $8m

The country’s performance in AGOA was highlighted by Tammy Dlamini, who is the Senior Country Representative (Eswatini and Angola) for the USAID Africa Trade and Investment Southern Africa Buy-in Activity.  In his presentation it was noted that the country’s exports to the United States (US) in 2022 was over E1.4 billion, while in 2021 it was E669 164 496 and E387 702 611.40 in 2021. Dlamini said the US was a big market worth...

17 July 2023

** AGOA eligibility review 2023 (for year 2024): Timelines of hearings and request for comments ** [Deadline written submissions 7 July]

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is announcing the initiation of the annual review of the eligibility of sub-Saharan African countries to receive the benefits of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The AGOA Implementation Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (AGOA Subcommittee) is requesting written public comments for this review and will conduct a virtual public hearing on this matter. In...

16 May 2023

Cameroon aims to boost export revenues, rejoin AGOA - minister

Cameroon is working to boost export revenues to fend off a potential debt crisis and has relaunched talks with the U.S. to rejoin Washington's flagship trade initiative with Africa, its economy minister said on Monday. The economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global shocks provoked by the war in Ukraine have hit African countries hard, denting economic growth and aggravating their sovereign debt positions. The...

11 April 2023

Somalia pursues AGOA membership to bolster trade

The Somali government officially applied to join the 36 African countries on Thursday, benefiting from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The announcement was made during the Somalia AGOA application ceremony, where outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, Larry André, highlighted the United States’ commitment to expanding and modernizing partnerships in Africa and Somalia. Ambassador André emphasized that the U.S....

10 April 2023

You are here: Home/News/Article/US urges Swaziland to review terrorism law as precondition for AGOA readmission