United States Department of State Secretary Hillary Clinton is meeting with top African trade officials and politicians in Nairobi, Kenya for the 8th US-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum to discuss ways in which the United States and Africa can build on and improve the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Joining Clinton are United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson.
AGOA was first signed into law in 2000 by then-President Bill Clinton. The legislation is supposed to improve US market access for African goods that meet certain quality and origin standards. Some goods are allowed to enter the US duty-free. Some stakeholders believe legislation is an example of a successful trade agreement between a developed country and the developing world, but others have concerns about AGOA. Originally the bill was to expire in 2004, but it has been extended since then.
To read the BBC report on the summit, or to hear comments from various summit stakeholders, click here. For information from the State Department on the Secretary’s African trip click here. For more information on the African Growth and Opportunity Act click here.
AGOA was first signed into law in 2000 by then-President Bill Clinton. The legislation is supposed to improve US market access for African goods that meet certain quality and origin standards. Some goods are allowed to enter the US duty-free. Some stakeholders believe legislation is an example of a successful trade agreement between a developed country and the developing world, but others have concerns about AGOA. Originally the bill was to expire in 2004, but it has been extended since then.
To read the BBC report on the summit, or to hear comments from various summit stakeholders, click here. For information from the State Department on the Secretary’s African trip click here. For more information on the African Growth and Opportunity Act click here.
Posted: 08/04/09
