AGOA countries remain same

   The White House has determined all 40 sub-Saharan African countries currently eligible for trade preferences and other benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) will remain the same and no new countries will be added at this time. 
   The Obama administration’s determination is based on the annual review of whether the countries named in AGOA continue to meet its eligibility criteria. Those criteria include establishing, or making continual progress towards establishing, a market-based economy, rule of law, economic policies to reduce poverty, protection of internationally recognized worker rights, and efforts to combat corruption.
   Countries eligible for AGOA also may not engage in activities that undermine U.S. foreign policy interests, or engage in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.
   On Oct. 25, President Obama signed a presidential proclamation designating Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger as eligible for AGOA benefits. Each of these countries was previously ineligible, but during a separate review process, the president determined that they had met the AGOA’s eligibility criteria.
   According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, total two-way goods trade with sub-Saharan Africa countries during 2010 was $82 billion. The top U.S. export markets in sub-Saharan Africa for 2010 were South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, and Ethiopia. The top export categories in 2010 were machinery, oil, wheat and rice, and aircraft. U.S. imports under AGOA (including GSP) totaled $44.2 billion in 2010. Non-oil imports under AGOA totaled $4 billion and included value-added products such as apparel, footwear, processed agricultural products, and manufactured goods.
   The top five beneficiary countries were Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, Republic of Congo, and Chad. Other leading AGOA beneficiaries included Gabon, Lesotho, Kenya, Mauritius, and Swaziland.
   AGOA was signed into law by President Clinton in May 2000, with the objectives of expanding U.S. trade and investment with sub-Saharan Africa, stimulating economic growth, promoting a high-level dialogue on trade and investment-related issues, and facilitating sub-Saharan Africa’s integration into the global economy.