United States President Joe Biden has revealed plans to expel Uganda, Niger, Gabon and the Central African Republic from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) of 2000 which is a special US-Africa trade programme.
The programme grants eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US market for more than 1800 products. In the statement the President said that these countries were either involved in “gross violations” of human rights or not making progress towards democratic rule.
“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,” President Biden said.
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President Biden said that Niger and Gabon – both of which are currently under military rule following coups this year, are ineligible for Agoa. “They have not established, or are not making continual progress toward establishing the protection of political pluralism and the rule of law, “the president added.
He also said that the removal of the Central African Republic and Uganda from the programme was due to “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights” by their governments.
Their removal from the the trade-deal is set to take effect from the start of next year and is likely to impact their economies, as Agoa has been credited with promoting exports, economic growth and job creation among participating countries.
The US State Department announced last week that it had suspended most foreign aid to Gabon and would only resume assistance if Gabon’s transitional government establishes democratic rule. In August, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a similar measure against Niger, saying that the US is pausing certain foreign assistance programs benefitting the government of Niger.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea have all previously been expelled from Agoa after military coups in those countries.
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