Nations Wary of Closer Embrace With U.S. (AGOA)

PanAfrica: Nations Wary of Closer Embrace With U.S.


A chorus of U.S. officials is signaling that Washington wants to turn a controversial programme giving poor African nations partial access to U.S. markets into a full-fledged free trade agreement that would open Africa's economy to U.S. corporations. But African officials gave a lukewarm reception to the idea, while independent analysts say a free trade deal with the United States -- before Africa manages to protect and strengthen its agricultural, services and industrial sectors -- would be a mistake. The fifth African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum held in Washington wrapped up Wednesday amid U.S. calls on the 37 African nations taking part to remove barriers to U.S. trade and allow more goods and services into their markets. - Emad Mekay


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Inter Press Service (Johannesburg)
June 8, 2006

by Emad Mekay
Washington

A chorus of U.S. officials is signaling that Washington wants to turn a controversial programme giving poor African nations partial access to U.S. markets into a full-fledged free trade agreement that would open Africa's economy to U.S. corporations.

But African officials gave a lukewarm reception to the idea, while independent analysts say a free trade deal with the United States -- before Africa manages to protect and strengthen its agricultural, services and industrial sectors -- would be a mistake.

The fifth African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum held in Washington wrapped up Wednesday amid U.S. calls on the 37 African nations taking part to remove barriers to U.S. trade and allow more goods and services into their markets.

In a keynote speech, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said progress against rampant African poverty is only likely through business-led growth, and argued that in most African countries, governments still stifle private business with bureaucratic red tape and high fees.

She prodded African leaders to eliminate barriers by reminding them of a U.S. proposal in September to remove most of its own barriers that prohibit the free flow of goods and services as long as other nations do the same.

U.S. officials said they would prepare African nations for a potential free trade agreement through watered-down programmes like bilateral investment treaties, and trade and investment framework agreements (TIFAs) that traditionally have preceded free trade pacts.

"To preserve and build on the momentum created by AGOA, we must find other ways to strengthen and deepen our trade and investment relations with African countries," Karan Bhatia, deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR), said in a speech.

"We have several tools to accomplish this, including free trade agreements," he added.

On Wednesday, the U.S. signed a TIFA with Rwanda that covers issues important to Washington, like intellectual property and investment.

The same day, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns invited U.S. agribusiness firms to join in a trade and investment mission to the East Africa region in late fall 2006 on the sidelines of the AGOA forum.

"I'm confident this mission will help advance our goals to reduce trade barriers and increase trade between the United States and East Africa, creating new job opportunities for all our citizens," said Johanns.

U.S. business groups also convened as part of the forum, and say they are now focused on new opportunities, such as "untapped and diverse portfolio investment prospects", in sub-Saharan Africa.

Joining the nascent lobbying for an African free trade agreement, the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington issued a report calling on the U.S. to turn AGOA into a free trade agreement in 10 years.

"The U.S. should begin work now transforming AGOA into a free trade agreement by its expiration in 2015," said the two authors of the paper, Brett D. Schaefer and Daniella Markheim.

The U.S. should require that eligible nations incrementally lower tariffs on U.S. imports beginning in 2010, with the target of eliminating tariffs on 95 percent of goods by 2015, and demand that eligible countries eliminate tariffs on essential medicines and medical equipment by 2007, they said.

They urged U.S. policymakers to exploit AGOA "as a lever to lower trade barriers on essential medicines and supplies from abroad" and spur a new region-wide customs arrangement in Africa.

AGOA was passed by Congress in 2000. It eliminates U.S. import barriers on most of sub-Saharan Africa's main exports to the United States, particularly textiles and clothing.

But for African countries to qualify, U.S. officials must first certify that they have liberalised their economies, privatised their public assets, minimised government interference in private business and created a U.S.-style legal system.

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Currently 37 of the 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have been designated as eligible for AGOA membership.

The rising calls at this week's forum for a wider free trade agreement dismayed critics of the original deal, who have long voiced concerns that Washington would eventually turn it around to serve its own international corporations.

"Across-the-board liberalisation and elimination of all tariffs makes no sense to Africa," said Jessica Walker Beaumont of the American Friends Service Committee.
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Last Updated June 10, 2006 7:02 AM