US President Joe Biden has unveiled a plan to remove Uganda, Gabon, Niger, and the Central African Republic (CAR) from the special US-Africa trade program known as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). This decision is based on their involvement in “gross violations” of human rights or a lack of progress towards democratic governance. Agoa, introduced in 2000, provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the US market for over 1,800 products.
Why it matters
President Biden’s decision to expel these countries from AGOA is significant for several reasons. The move underscores the US government’s commitment to promoting human rights and democratic governance in African nations. By targeting countries with “gross violations” and a lack of progress in these areas, the US is signalling its stance on these critical issues.
Expulsion from AGOA is expected to have a substantial economic impact on the affected countries. The trade programme has played a pivotal role in promoting exports, economic growth, and job creation among participating nations. The removal from this trade program is likely to affect their economies. While CAR’s expulsion is expected to have minimal impact due to its limited US exports, Uganda, Gabon, and Niger rely more heavily on the program for their trade with the US. Uganda, in particular, faced cancellations of textile orders as a result of its anti-homosexuality law.
Go deeper
The decision is rooted in issues such as Uganda’s controversial anti-homosexuality law, which has faced global criticism. President Biden’s action aligns with international concerns about these countries’ policies and actions. Niger and Gabon, both under military rule following coups in the same year, are deemed ineligible for AGOA due to their failure to establish or make continual progress toward protecting political pluralism and the rule of law.
The CAR and Uganda’s removal from AGOA is attributed to “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights” by their governments. Uganda had faced the prospect of expulsion earlier due to its controversial anti-homosexuality law, leading to discussions of potential sanctions. Despite extensive engagement with the US, these countries have failed to address concerns regarding their non-compliance with AGOA eligibility criteria.
The US government has taken measures to suspend foreign aid to Gabon and Niger, with a condition of resuming assistance tied to establishing democratic rule. This underscores the US’s insistence on democratic governance in these junta-led countries. This action mirrors previous instances where Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea were expelled from Agoa following military coups in those countries.