US president Biden has revealed plans to expel Uganda, Gabon, Niger and the Central African Republic (CAR) from a special US-Africa trade program. According to the president, these countries were either involved in ‘gross violations’ of human rights or not making progress towards democratic rule.
The US introduced the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) in 2000. It gives eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US for more than 1,800 products.
President Biden said that Niger and Gabon - both of which are currently under military rule following coups this year - are ineligible for Agoa because they ‘have not established, or are not making continual progress toward establishing the protection of political pluralism and the rule of law’.
He also said that the removal of the CAR and Uganda from the program was due to ‘gross violations of internationally recognised human rights’ by their governments.
The four countries are yet to react to the announcement. Their expulsion from Agoa is set to take effect from the start of next year and is likely to impact their economies, as Agoa has been credited with promoting exports, economic growth and job creation among participating countries.
Source: www.bbc.com