Published
August 16, 2024
Trade Ministers from across sub-Saharan Africa traveled to Washington last month to participate in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, an annual meeting to strengthen trade relations between Africa and the United States.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC) not only participated in the AGOA Forum and co-hosted the reception for U.S. and African leaders but also organized many high-level policy roundtables with African partners supportive of AGOA’s reauthorization.
Throughout the week of discussions, one thing was abundantly clear: AGOA, which facilitates increased investment and trade between the U.S. and African countries, must be renewed well before its September 2025 expiration. Its renewal is vital if the U.S. wants to continue creating certainly for investors engaging economically in Africa—the world’s youngest and fastest-growing continent.
As USAfBC President Kendra Gaither said to Newzroom Afrika as the week kicked off, “[We] need to continue to call for reauthorization of the AGOA, increase its utilization, and ensure that our African partners can see its benefits, not just today, but into the future—and that involves a long-term extension and reauthorization of the Act.”
Roundtable with South African Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition
We started the week by welcoming South Africa’s newly appointed Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Parks Tau, who discussed the priorities of South Africa's Government of National Unity (GNU), which took office in July.
As the first GNU official to travel to the U.S. since South Africa’s May 29 elections, Minister Tau focused on the priority South Africa places on strong U.S.-South Africa relations, including strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties and reauthorization of AGOA.
Roundtable with Tanzanian Minister of Industry and Trade
Appointed last month, Dr. Selemani Jafo, Tanzania's Minister for Industry and Trade, spoke to us about his commitment to addressing and resolving trade challenges. This roundtable centered on economic goals for the bilateral relationship, the Chamber’s MOU partnership with Tanzania to expand two-way trade and investment, and the reauthorization of AGOA.
U.S.-Mauritius Trade and Investment Dialogue
Continuing the momentum, we hosted the U.S.-Mauritius Trade and Investment Dialogue, featuring Mauritius’ Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration Maneesh Gobin, and Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training Soodesh Satkam Callichurn.
The dialogue emphasized promoting U.S. investments, with participating government officials and business leaders stressing the critical role of AGOA's renewal in enhancing mutual economic growth. Notably, the Ministers expressed concerns that national economic gains achieved under AGOA could be erased without the Act’s reauthorization.
U.S.-Angola Trade and Investment Dialogue
Our conversation with the Angolan delegation featured Dr. Milton Reis, Secretary of the President of the Republic for Economic Affairs, and Secretary of State for Industry Carlos Rodrigues. This roundtable emphasized the importance of AGOA, diversifying the commercial partnership, and the U.S. Chamber’s ongoing efforts to mobilize the U.S. private sector in support of the Lobito Corridor initiative.
We also explored leveraging the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Angola Working Group to strengthen the bilateral trade and investment relationship.
Roundtable with Minister of International Trade of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Minister of International Trade for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Julien Paluku Kahongya discussed deepening U.S.-DRC Congo economic relations, the AGOA renewal, and promoting opportunities for U.S. investors in the DRC. Minister Kahongya used the dialogue with members to extend an invitation to the U.S. private sector to participate in the 2025 AGOA Forum, which the DRC is expected to host in the coming year.
Dialogue with Minister of Trade of Cote d’Ivoire
The Chamber used the conversation with the Minister of Trade Souleymane Diarrassouba to build on the momentum of the recent Ivoirian delegation to Silicon Valley, supported by the U.S.-Africa Business Center, to expand on our close collaboration with U.S. and Ivoirian leaders.
With the recent opening of the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) newest Commercial Service office at the U.S. Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire, the meeting also explored how the U.S. Chamber and the Ministry of Trade and Industry can partner to boost two-way trade and investment between our countries.
Roundtable with Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
We concluded the week with insights from Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, who spoke on strengthening U.S.-Nigeria ties through AGOA renewal and modernization.
Dr. Uzoka-Anite specifically emphasized the strategic advocacy of the U.S. Chamber in enhancing bilateral trade relationships between the U.S. and African countries. We also discussed collaboration with Ministry agencies, including the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and the Nigeria Export Promotion Council.
A Promising Future of Public-Private Collaboration
The policy dialogues we hosted at the Chamber during the 2024 AGOA Forum showcase the key role of the U.S. private sector in advancing U.S.-Africa economic ties through AGOA and the community’s support for the Act’s renewal. The U.S. Chamber remains committed to working with legislators in both chambers of Congress to update and reauthorize AGOA and expand U.S. commercial partnerships with the nations of Africa.
At the U.S. Chamber, we look forward to continuing the policy dialogue between the U.S. and African public and private sectors during our September meetings in New York City during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
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About the authors
Ellington Arnold
Ellington Arnold is manager of the U.S.-Africa Business Center (USAfBC) at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
