US President Joe Biden on Monday announced his intention to terminate the involvement of Gabon, Niger, Uganda, and the Central African Republic in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program.
Biden cited “gross violations” of internationally acknowledged human rights as the reason for his action regarding the Central African Republic and Uganda.
Additionally, he pointed out that Niger and Gabon had not succeeded in establishing or maintaining ongoing progress in safeguarding political pluralism and the rule of law.
“Despite intensive engagement between the United States and the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda, these countries have failed to address United States concerns about their non-compliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria,” Biden said in a letter to the speaker of the US House of Representatives.
Biden announced his plan to revoke the designation of these nations as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries under AGOA, with the change set to take effect on January 1, 2024.
He expressed his commitment to continuously evaluate their adherence to the program’s eligibility criteria.
Introduced in the year 2000, AGOA provides qualifying countries with duty-free access to the US market for their exports. Although it is slated to conclude in September 2025, discussions are already in progress regarding the potential extension of the program and its duration.
African governments and industry associations are advocating for an initial 10-year extension of AGOA without modifications. This move aims to provide reassurance to businesses and potential investors who may be uncertain about AGOA’s future.
