Uganda 'risks losing AGOA deal over used clothes ban'
Uganda risks being phased out of African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) deal if it bans the importation of used clothes, Daily Monitor has learnt.
African Growth and Opportunity Act is a United States Trade Act which allows market access to the US from selected sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, including Uganda.
In a courtesy call to the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga recently, the US ambassador to Uganda, Ms Deborah R Malac, discouraged the move to ban used clothes on the grounds that it could jeopardise free trade between the two countries.
While clarifying on the matter, Mr Christopher Brown, the US embassy spokesperson, in an email said the ban could impact on creation of employment both here and in US.
"The move will jeopardises the spirit of free market whose basis resulted into Agoa," Mr Brown said.
If the plan to phase out used clothes is actualised, there will be no Agoa for Uganda as the situation may not deem it fit.
In an interview with Mr Isa Sekitto, the Kampala City Traders Association (Kacita) spokesperson, it emerged that the matter should be left to the market forces of demand and supply.
"As the economic situation improves, the market will naturally eliminate it as it is the case with phone transformation. This is not something that needs legislation. The market is discerning enough and knows how to respond to the market forces of demand and supply," Mr Sekitto said.
"We are in support of interventions such as fumigation of used clothes before being imported here. We want the government to ensure that international standards regarding fumigation process are followed," he added.