US President Joe Biden intends to withdraw Gabon, Niger, Uganda, and the Central African Republic from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program.
Biden explained his action by citing “gross violations” of human rights in the Central African Republic and Uganda. He also mentioned Niger and Gabon’s failure to protect 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 U.S. concerns about their non-compliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria,” Biden wrote in a letter to the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Biden intends to remove these countries as AGOA beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries as of January 1, 2024. He added that he will continue evaluating their eligibility for the program.
AGOA, launched in 2000, allows qualifying countries to export duty-free to the U.S. It expires in September 2025, but discussions are underway to extend it for how long.
African governments and industry groups want a quick 10-year extension without changes to calm business and new investors about AGOA’s future.