Agoa.info - African Growth and Opportunity Act
TRALAC - Trade Law Centre
You are here: Home/News/Article/Statement from USTR Tai on the AGOA eligibility review, Mauritania to be reinstated

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

Statement from USTR Tai on the AGOA eligibility review, Mauritania to be reinstated
Published date:
Tuesday, 31 October 2023
Source:

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 termination of its benefits due to worker rights concerns, as well as the government’s willingness to work diligently with the United States to continue to make substantial and measurable progress on worker rights and eliminating forced labor across the country.

“Recognizing progress made by Mauritania in recent years, we know that there is more hard work to be done,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. “Mauritania’s continued partnership with, support for, and empowerment of labor, civil, and human rights organizations will be key to its success. Using the tools provided by the AGOA program, we will closely monitor Mauritania’s progress, in effectively and decisively protecting internationally recognized worker rights, particularly eradicating the scourge of hereditary slavery.”

Gabon and Niger’s AGOA eligibility will be terminated due to unconstitutional changes of government in those two countries. Benefits will also be terminated for the Central African Republic and Uganda on the basis of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights being perpetrated by those governments. 

“Absent urgent changes, these four countries are set to be removed from the program due to actions taken by their governments that are inconsistent with the AGOA eligibility criteria,” said Ambassador Tai. “The United States urges these governments to take necessary actions to meet those criteria so that we can resume our valued trading partnerships. I will provide each of these countries with clear benchmarks for a pathway toward reinstatement, and our Administration will work with them to achieve that objective.”

Read related news articles

Trade with AGOA beneficiaries growing as program nears expiration

U.S. trade with African Growth and Opportunity Act beneficiary countries has increased over the past two years, a recent report from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative finds. AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. for more than 1,800 products in addition to the more than 5,100 products eligible under the Generalized System of Preferences. Although GSP expired Dec. 31, 2020, tariff lines...

03 July 2024

USTR releases 2024 biennial report on implementation of AGOA

The Office of the United States Trade Representative today released its 2024 Biennial Report  on the Implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Report.  “AGOA has helped to grow Africa’s extraordinary economic potential and has made a difference for many Africans, but we have an opportunity to make it even better,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai.  “A lot has changed on the continent...

28 June 2024

2024 AGOA annual review virtual hearing

On Monday, July 24, 2023, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will hold a virtual public hearing to receive oral testimony related to sub-Saharan African countries' eligibility for AGOA benefits. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM EDT. During the virtual hearing, the livestream will be available at www.ustr.gov/live. See the downloadable document alongside for the witness list, including panel assignments. 

07 June 2024

USTR releases President Biden’s 2024 trade policy agenda and 2023 annual report

The Office of the United States Trade Representative today released President Biden’s 2024 Trade Policy Agenda and 2023 Annual Report to Congress, which details USTR’s work to advance President Biden’s trade agenda.  The President’s 2024 Trade Policy Agenda stands up for workers’ rights and sustainable trade practices, supports U.S. farmers, ranchers, fishers, and food manufacturers, bolsters supply chain resilience,...

05 March 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

Remarks by USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai at the closing ceremony of the 20th AGOA Forum

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today delivered remarks during the closing ceremony of the 20th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum. In her remarks, Ambassador Tai reiterated the United States’ commitment to strengthen the U.S.-Africa trade and investment relationship to deliver real opportunities across our societies. Ambassador Tai also highlighted the need to make the AGOA program more effective and...

04 November 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

AGOA Forum 2023: Digital press briefing with officials in the USTR and State Department [Transcript]

MODERATOR:  All right.  Good afternoon to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Africa Regional Media Hub.  I welcome our participants logging in from across the continent and thank all of you for joining this discussion.  Today, we are very pleased to be joined by the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa Constance Hamilton and Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of African Affairs of the State...

26 October 2023

You are here: Home/News/Article/Statement from USTR Tai on the AGOA eligibility review, Mauritania to be reinstated