| AGOA directs the President of the United States to convene an annual meeting between the U.S. government and representatives of eligible African countries and to prepare an annual report to Congress on U.S. trade and investment policies with sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Currently, Angola, Gabon, Nigeria and South Africa- accounted for the bulk (84 percent) of U.S. total imports from SSA. Since the passage of AGOA, the business climate has improved for non-agricultural exports and growth in these sectors has made relatively low direct benefits to Africa’s poor. Consequently, expanding AGOA’s application to African agriculture would have a significant impact on reducing hunger and poverty and therefore, on improving overall conditions in SSA. As a result of... |
