Agoa has particularly benefited sectors like apparel, textiles, agriculture and light
manufacturing.
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A review of scholarly articles shows Agoa benefits are uneven across sub-Saharan Africa.
A fire burns during violent protests in Kampala, Uganda, on 18 November 2020.
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State security agents violently quashed protests following the 2020 arrest of musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine.
African governments are seeking an extension of the Agoa beyond 2025.
GUILLEM SARTORIO/AFP via Getty Images
Agoa should be extended by another 20 years and membership expanded to cover north Africa
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Pretoria needs to pull off a balancing act in managing South Africa’s international relations to advance its economic interests.
President Cyril Ramaphosa explained South Africa’s foreign policy ahead of hosting the 15th Brics summit.
GCIS
It would help African countries to have a common position on the Ukraine war. This should be based on its impact on food and energy security in the continent.
Provisions for mandatory inspections to ascertain labour practices are controversial.
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The idea of embedding robust labour obligations in the Kenya-US agreement is highly controversial.
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Washington’s protectionist industrial policy is fracturing trade and investment flows based on geopolitical considerations.
China’s President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin cement bonds at the Kremlin in March.
Vladimir Astapkovich/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images.
The US’s negative attitude towards BRICS reflects its own weakening global power, especially its inability to isolate Russia in Europe and to contain China’s growing influence.
The Agoa agreement provides eligible African countries with duty-free access to the US market.
AFP PHOTO / GIANLUIGI GUERCIA
Africa should push for extension of AGOA rather than bilateral trade deals with the US.
At the 2022 US/Africa summit US President Joe Biden will be building on the 2014 gathering convened by Barack Obama.
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Judging by the first summit in 2014, this one can also be expected to produce some concrete outcomes.
US state secretary Antony Blinken seeks closer ties with Africa.
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Washington must overcome growing anti-west sentiment on the continent given the development alternative that China offers.
President Joe Biden speaks as Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks on.
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America is seeking to reconnect with Africa through climate-smart solutions, health and digital technology.
Ethiopian women at a garment factory at the Hawassa Industrial Park in the country’s southern region.
Eyerusalem Jiregna/AFP via Getty Images
In democratic contexts, getting women into work empowers them. In autocracies like Ethiopia’s, this doesn’t hold. We found out why.
Workers packaging honey for sale in Mekele, Ethiopia.
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Countries like Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea find it difficult to access the US market.
Export garment manufacturing workers display some of the clothes they produce during a Labour Day parade in the capital Nairobi.
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The US-Africa trade pact has had a significant impact on stimulating export trade – but African countries have not realised its full potential.
Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari and US president Donald Trump during a press conference at the White House in 2018.
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The Trump administration’s policies affected Africa in detrimental ways.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta during a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in August 2018.
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Kenya must pay more attention to the role of this agreement as an investment attraction vehicle and not just a simple tariff centred ‘traditional’ pact.
Economic cooperation is the linchpin of the US-SA bilateral relationship.
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South Africa should use its remaining AGOA window to find other export markets and retool its economy - as US economic attitude towards Africa hardens.
Democratic presidential hopeful former Vice President Joe Biden greets supporters after addressing a Super Tuesday event in Los Angeles on March 3, 2020.
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A Biden presidency would be highly likely to adopt policies that would restore the cooperative links that prevailed under Obama.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari heads to the White House.
EPA/Frank Augstein
It’s inconceivable that military prowess can offer long-term solutions to Nigeria’s deep-rooted institutional problems.