Digital Press Briefing on Outcomes of the AGOA Forum 2024

MODERATOR:  Good afternoon to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Africa Regional Media Hub.  I welcome our participants logging in from across the continent and thank all of you for joining us.  Today, we are very pleased to be joined by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa Constance Hamilton and the U.S. Department of State’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Joy Basu.  AUSTR Hamilton and DAS Basu will give a readout of the 2024 U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum, also known as the AGOA Forum.  Convening under the theme “Beyond 2025: Reimagining AGOA for an Inclusive, Sustainable and Prosperous Tomorrow,” the AGOA Forum brought together senior government officials from across the U.S. Government and AGOA-eligible countries, as well as representatives from key regional economic organizations, labor, civil society, and the private sector.  Throughout the forum, discussions focused on how to modernize AGOA and make this partnership more effective, inclusive, and tailored to the realities of a 21st century U.S.-Africa economic partnership.

We will begin today’s briefing with opening remarks from AUSTR Hamilton and DAS Basu, then we will turn to your questions.  We will try to get to as many of them as we can during this meeting.

With that, I will turn it over to AUSTR Hamilton and DAS Basu for opening remarks.

Source: https://www.state.gov/digital-press-briefing-on-outcomes-of-the-agoa-forum-2024/

2024 AGOA Forum Kicks Off in DC: Shaping US-Africa Trade Future

Washington DC, July 24 –The 2024 African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum is taking place in Washington, DC, from July 24-26, bringing together government officials, business leaders, and civil society representatives from the United States and sub-Saharan Africa. This year’s theme focuses on reimagining AGOA beyond its 2025 expiration to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai is hosting the event to make AGOA more effective in addressing current challenges and delivering benefits across the African continent. The forum will feature discussions on enhancing U.S.-Africa trade and investment cooperation and advancing regional integration efforts.

The AGOA Forum features several key components across its three-day schedule. Ministers will participate in plenary sessions and breakout discussions during the Ministerial program on July 25-26. Civil society representatives and labor organizations will convene on July 24 for their dedicated forum. The Private Sector Forum, also on July 24, will bring together business leaders, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivering remarks to kick off the event.

Source: https://diplomaticwatch.com/28117/news/2024-agoa-forum-kicks-off-in-dc-shaping-us-africa-trade-future/

Ambassador Katherine Tai to Host the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Annual Forum in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai today announced that she will host the 21st U.S.–sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (AGOA Forum) in Washington, D.C., from July 24 to 26, 2024.

“AGOA has been the cornerstone of our economic partnership with sub-Saharan Africa for over twenty years,” said Ambassador Tai.  “This Forum is an opportunity to discuss how we can make the program more effective, to address today’s challenges and deliver real benefits to more people across the continent.  I look forward to welcoming my fellow ministers and guests to Washington.”

The theme for this year’s AGOA Forum is “Beyond 2025: Reimagining AGOA for an Inclusive, Sustainable and Prosperous Tomorrow.”  Over the course of the event, participants will engage in discussions on how the United States and sub-Saharan African partners can work together to make AGOA more transformative and ensure that the program can be an effective tool to drive inclusive, sustainable economic growth for more people and advance regional integration efforts.  

The AGOA Forum will bring together the governments of the United States and AGOA-eligible countries, as well as representatives from key regional economic organizations, civil society, labor, and the private sector.  The July 25 to 26 Ministerial program will feature plenary sessions on the present and future of AGOA and U.S.–Africa trade and investment cooperation, as well as breakout sessions on various topics.  It will be preceded on July 24 by a Civil Society and Organized Labor Forum and a Private Sector Forum.

BACKGROUND

Since its enactment in 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has been at the core of United States economic policy and commercial engagement with Africa.  AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 1,800 products, in addition to the more than 5,000 products that are eligible for duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences program.

To meet AGOA’s rigorous eligibility requirements, countries must establish or make continual progress toward establishing, among other things: a market-based economy; the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process; the elimination of barriers to U.S. trade and investment; economic policies to reduce poverty; a system to combat corruption and bribery; and protection of internationally recognized worker rights.  To be eligible, countries also must not engage in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.

By providing new market opportunities, AGOA has helped bolster economic growth, promoted economic and political reform, and improved U.S. economic relations in the region.

Source: https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2024/july/ambassador-katherine-tai-host-african-growth-and-opportunity-act-agoa-annual-forum-washington-dc

AGOA Renewal: Committing To Trade and Development in Africa

2024 Trade Policy Agenda and 2023 Annual Report

S.4110 – AGOA Renewal and Improvement Act of 2024