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Africa: Risch, Coons Introduce Legislation to Renew Trade Partnership Between U.S. and Sub-Saharan African Countries

Washington, DC — U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Chris Coons (D-Del.), introduced the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Renewal and Improvement Act of 2024today to renew and strengthen a key trade program with sub-Saharan African countries. AGOA is a trade preference program that facilitates deeper […]

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South Africa: John James Introduces U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act

Representative John James (MI-10), alongside Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), have introduced the U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would require a full review of the bilateral relationship with the United States and South Africa, given South Africa’s recent positioning and coordination with America’s adversaries. Rep. James released […]

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Uganda: Museveni Writes to Biden Over AGOA

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday met and held discussions with the Ambassador of the United States of America (USA) to Uganda, H.E William W. Popp at State House Entebbe. During the meeting, President Museveni and Ambassador Popp discussed a wide range of topics including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) issue. H.E Museveni also […]

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South Africa: US Senator Chris Coons Proposes Immediate Review of SA’s AGOA Eligibility

His proposed Bill would extend Agoa for 16 years — but possibly eject SA from the preferential trade programme. Powerful US Democratic Party Senator Chris Coons is circulating a discussion draft of a Bill to renew the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) for 16 years that would also require an immediate “out-of-cycle” review of […]

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Africa: Senator Coons Releases Draft of AGOA Reauthorization Act to Deepen U.S.-Africa Economic Relationship

Washington, DC — WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released a discussion draft of the AGOA Renewal Act of 2023that would extend and enhance the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the cornerstone of the United States’ economic relationship with sub-Saharan Africa. “For over 20 years, AGOA has created valuable opportunities for U.S. businesses, workers, and […]

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South Africa: Cosatu Welcomes the Conclusion of the Successful AGOA Forum

Special Note: Happy 37th Anniversary to COSATU. Formed December 1985 06 November 2023 The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes the successful AGOA Forum held from 2 to 4 November 2023 in Johannesburg. We support government’s efforts to extend South Africa and other African countries’ membership in AGOA and negotiate a new and […]

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Tanzania: TPSF Calls for Inclusion of More Products Into Agoa

TANZANIA Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) has called for expansion of export products into the United States covered under African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for Tanzania and African countries to reap more from the arrangement. The TPSF Ag Chief Executive Officer Mr Raphael Maganga made the plea during the AGOA Forum which took place in […]

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Uganda: Museveni Dares ‘Overestimated, Arrogant’ U.S.

Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has said he will not bow to pressure from the Americans who recently struck Uganda off The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) over alleged continued human rights violations and in particular over the Anti-Homosexuality law. Museveni accuses the Americans of “overestimating” themselves and “undermining” Africans, saying Africa has proved in […]

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Uganda Not Bothered About Being Scrapped Off Agoa List , Says Museveni

President Museveni has downplayed the decision by the United States to scrap Uganda off the list of beneficiaries accessing the American market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). In a statement on Sunday evening, the president advised Ugandans not to be over concerned by the actions of the US in removing the country […]

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Africa: Statement from Ambassador Katherine Tai on the African Growth and Opportunity Act Eligibility Review

  President Biden decided to reinstate African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program benefits for one country, Mauritania, and to terminate benefits for four countries – Gabon, Niger, the Central African Republic, and Uganda – effective January 1, 2024. Based on the results of the annual AGOA eligibility review, Mauritania’s eligibility will be […]

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South Africa: AGOA an Opportunity to Elevate Labour Standards and Social Justice Issues

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum creates a significant opportunity to elevate issues associated with labour standards and social justice. This is according to Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi who delivered opening remarks at the Organised Labour and Civil Society AGOA Forum on Thursday. “We exist within complex social and economic environments […]

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Africa: U.S. Delegation Joins 20th AGOA Forum

A senior U.S. Government delegation is traveling to South Africa to participate in the 20th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Johannesburg, November 2-4. AGOA is a cornerstone of the U.S. trade relationship with Africa. At this Forum, the United States looks forward to constructive dialogue with African partners in government, the private […]

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Africa: Remarks by Coordinator British Robinson at AGOA – Not Just Another Renewal

Good morning excellencies, colleagues, business leaders and members of civil society all protocols observed. I am British Robinson, the Coordinator of Prosper Africa, a U.S. presidential-national security initiative to scale trade and investment between the United States and Africa.Prosper Africa takes a whole-of U.S. Government approach to reaching scale in order to strengthen our economic […]

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South Africa: Measures in Place to Ensure Safe and Secure Agoa

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) has put measures in place to ensure the 20th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum takes place in a safe and secure environment. NatJOINTS includes various government departments led by the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the State Security […]

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Africa: Prosper Africa Coordinator to Join High-Level U.S. Government Delegation to Agoa Forum

Johannesburg, South Africa — British A. Robinson, Prosper Africa Coordinator, will join a high-level U.S. government delegation to attend the 20th U.S.-sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum on November 2-4, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Forum, known as the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, is an annual gathering of leaders from the […]

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Malawi: US Renews Commitment to Supporting Agoa in Malawi

United States (US) Ambassador to Malawi, David Young, has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to continue supporting AGOA in Malawi, stressing that the implementation of the Growth Poles and the African Trade and Investment is a testament to that commitment. The US is implementing the projects through its United States Aid for International Development (USAID) to […]

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South Africa: Ahead of Crucial Agoa Forum, Pretoria Again Treads a Fine Line With Its Stance On Israel, Palestine, Gaza

After engaging in energetic diplomacy with the US over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, South Africa is once again walking a tightrope, this time on the Israel-Palestine-Gaza crisis. Pretoria is once again treading a fine line on a hot foreign policy issue, forced to navigate between its long-standing Palestine sympathies and its important Western economic ties, […]

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South Africa: SA Expected to Retain Its Agoa Status Despite Differences With US

It is almost certain that South Africa’s Agoa status will be renewed despite it and the US often being on opposite sides over geopolitical crises in the past year. The eligibility of countries for the US’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) has been under review during the past few months, and it is becoming […]