2023-11-04 21:52:02
In South Africa, the Agoa forum on free trade agreements between the United States and sub-Saharan African countries ended on Saturday, November 4, 2023. The 35 eligible countries called for the rapid renewal of the Agoa agreements which end in 2025 and to reform eligibility criteria considered too strict.
Published on: 04/11/2023 – 22:52
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Roman Song
Meeting for three days, the trade ministers and their representatives discussed the measures to be taken to reform these agreements which date from 2000 and which offer exemption from customs tariffs on certain products exported to the United States.
Ivory Coast already has big plans in the event of an extension of Agoa, according to Souleymane Diarrassouba, the Minister of Trade and Industry. “ We are counting on AGOA to boost a sector that is dear to our economy, that of our textile industry. For all the investors we speak with, the US market is an important market for their exports. »
Criteria to be relaxed for some
To benefit from customs advantages, you must meet criteria such as respecting democracy and human rights, otherwise you will be excluded. But for Marie-Hélène Mathey Boo, ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Washington, trade and politics do not go well together. “ Agoa is a trade agreement and we consider trade to be an asset for industrialization and development. If we associate the development of countries with politics, we will continue to experience current problems of exclusion », Points out the diplomat.
The American administration present in Johannesburg has listened to these demands, but points out that it is the members of Congress who have the last word. Blocked in Washington, none of them made the trip.
Also readInterview – African exports to the United States: “No country has been lightly excluded” from the American Agoa program
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