African Growth
African Growth and Opportunity Act in 2011
United States views on international law (based on the document “Digest of U.S. Practice in International Law”): On October 25, 2011, President Obama signed a presidential proclamation designating Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Niger as eligible for benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (“AGOA”), title I of Public Law 106-200. Daily Comp. Pres. Docs. 2011 DCPD No. 00790, p. 1. AGOA amended the Trade Act of 1974, 19 U.S.C. § 2462, to authorize the President to designate certain listed countries as a “beneficiary sub-Saharan African country” if the President determines that the country meets certain eligibility requirements in the AGOA and the Trade Act of 1974.
In December 2011, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk announced that all 40 of the countries then eligible for benefits under AGOA would remain eligible in 2012. USTR December 29, 2011 Press Release, available at (internet link) ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/press-releases/2011/december. As explained in the USTR Press Release, criteria for eligibility for benefits under AGOA 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.
Resources
See Also
- Trade
- Commercial Relations
- Investment
- Transportation
- Trade Agreements
- Trade-Related Issues
- Trade Legislation
- Trade Preferences
- Africa
Leave a Reply