Mauritania returns to the AGOA agreement.
Statement from Ambassador Katherine Tai on the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act eligibility review
Statement from Ambassador Katherine Tai on the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act eligibility review
October 31, 2023
WASHINGTON – President Biden has decided to restore trade preferences program benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to one country, Mauritania, and to end the benefits granted to four countries – Gabon, Niger, the Central African Republic and Uganda – effective January 1, 2024. .
Based on the results of the annual Africa Growth and Opportunity Act eligibility review, Mauritania’s eligibility will be restored based on the progress it made in terminating its benefits in 2019 due to labor rights concerns, as well as the government’s willingness to work diligently with the United Nations. States must continue to make significant, measurable progress on labor rights and eliminating forced labor across the country.
“While recognizing the progress Mauritania has made in recent years, we know there is more hard work to be done,” Ambassador Katherine Tai said. “Mauritania’s continued partnership with, support and empowerment of labor, civil and human rights organizations will be key to its success. Using the tools provided by the AGOA programme, we will closely monitor Mauritania’s progress in effectively and decisively protecting internationally recognized workers’ rights, in particular eliminating the scourge of hereditary slavery.” .
Gabon and Niger’s eligibility for the African Growth and Opportunity Act will be terminated due to unconstitutional changes of government in those countries. Benefits will also be terminated for the Central African Republic and Uganda on the basis of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed by these governments.
“In the absence of urgent changes, these four countries are scheduled to be removed from the program due to actions taken by their governments that are not consistent with the eligibility criteria of the African Growth and Opportunity Act,” Ambassador Tai said. “The United States urges these governments to take action to meet these benchmarks so that we can resume our valuable trade partnerships. I will provide each of these countries with clear benchmarks for a path toward reinstatement, and our administration will work with them to achieve that goal.”
