The African Growth and Opportunity Act: Provisions, Impact and Issues

$58.00

Howard Sarisohn (Editor)
Jonathan Cohen (Editor)

Series: African Political, Economic, and Security Issues
BISAC: POL053000

In 2000, Congress passed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a U.S. trade preference program, in order to help spur market-led economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and deepen U.S. trade and investment ties with the region. Since its enactment, Congress has amended AGOA five times, making some technical changes and renewing the trade preferences through September 30, 2015. According to the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, (USTR) for Africa, AGOA is the cornerstone of America’s trade and investment policy with sub-Saharan Africa. However, economic conditions in Africa have changed considerably since Congress passed the initial AGOA legislation.

Annual real gross domestic product (GDP) growth in SSA was nearly a full percentage point lower than global GDP growth (2.3% vs. 3.2%) in the decade leading up to AGOA’s passage (1990-2000). Over the last ten years, however, SSA’s growth averaged 5.7%, two points higher than the 3.7% world average. While the region still contains many of the world’s poorest countries and faces significant economic challenges, some observers and policymakers argue that changing economic conditions warrant an evolution in U.S. policy toward SSA, focused more strongly on private sector investment and increasing two-way trade. In recent years, SSA’s growing economic potential and abundant natural resources have attracted other foreign investors, including state- supported enterprises from countries such as China, which is now the region’s largest trading partner. This book seeks to inform the discussion on the potential reauthorization of AGOA through analysis of: (1) the components of the AGOA legislation; (2) U.S. import trends associated with AGOA; (3) the impact of AGOA on African economies and U.S.-Africa trade; and (4) the issues surrounding the reauthorization process. (Imprint: Novinka )

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface

African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA): Background and Reauthorization
(Brock R. Williams, CRS)

U.S. Trade and Investment Relations with Sub-Saharan Africa and the African Growth and Opportunity Act
(Vivian C. Jones, Brock R. Williams, CRS)

Statement of Ambassador Johnnie Carson, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Hearing on “Economic Statecraft: Embracing Africa’s Market Potential”

Statement of Earl W. Gast, Assistant Administrator for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development. Hearing on “Economic Statecraft: Embracing Africa’s Market Potential”

Statement of Florizelle Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Hearing on “Economic Statecraft: Embracing Africa’s Market Potential”

Index

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