Wilson Center Africa Program’s Post

Facilitating MSME participation in intra-Africa trade through value chains: Case study of Namibia: By Maria Immanuel One of the principles of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is the ‘preservation of the acquis’ which provides that the Regional Economic Communities’ Free Trade Areas (REC FTAs) are the building blocks for the AfCFTA. In the case of Namibia, the role of the SACU

⚖️ I want to bring to your attention the imminent expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in just over a year. The Act has been a cornerstone of US-Africa trade relations, offering tangible benefits to multiple African countries. Both sides of the aisle recognize the necessity of AGOA, but the terms of extension are subject to debate - particularly the concept of graduation. Rep. Terri Sewell, having visited several African nations, advocates for AGOA reform, stressing the need for stronger environmental and labor standard enforcement. Without such changes, countries on the precipice of the 'middle-income' category could find themselves excluded from the AGOA benefits - a fate Turkey faced due to surges in median income (under the GSP). Director of CSIS' Project on Prosperity and Development, Daniel Runde, believes AGOA graduation should only follow Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. But achieving market access for reciprocal exports remains a challenge, as evidenced by the Kenyan example. In an encouraging move, Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith has expressed his desire to integrate the GSP and Haitian preference programs with the AGOA renewal. Notably, the significant impact of AGOA on individual livelihoods and national economies has been underscored by several testimonies. Witness Skip Richmond highlighted how AGOA’s support for regions such as Ghana has facilitated training and employment, leading to improved living standards for many. Also on the agenda was the potential re-inclusion of Ethiopia into the AGOA framework. The consensus we glean from these discussions is one of reform, but not discontinuation. The AGOA has proven instrumental in economic development and growth, transforming lives in the process. I welcome your thoughts and opinions on this matter. What should AGOA reform entail? Is renewal without reform an option? #tradelaw #compliance #AGOA

Check out this insightful article highlighting South Africa's efforts to motivate for the renewal of AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) in 2023. Explore the key role AGOA plays in shaping Africa's economic landscape and promoting development. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dQKNhFWB Stay informed about the initiatives driving progress on the continent.

NACCIMA Tasks Fg On Quick Operationalization Of AfCFTA For Economic Integration

🚀 Last chance to shape the future of cross-border trade in Africa! 🌍 Participate in our survey on the development of a certification course for AfCFTA Implementation Capacity. Your insights will help empower businesses and drive economic growth across the continent. Don't miss out on this opportunity to make history! 📈💼 Click here to participate: https://lnkd.in/dzMwmmdp Cliquez ici pour participer: https://lnkd.in/du46e6HH 🌐 Why This Matters? Strategic Insight: Offer your members a voice in a groundbreaking program designed to streamline cross-border trade and amplify business success. Empowerment: Help tailor a course that directly addresses the unique challenges and opportunities your members face in the AfCFTA landscape. Collaboration: Join the Chamber Africa Network and partners fostering peer-to-peer learning and information exchange for Realtime AfCFTA implementation. About the project: The pilot phase is organized under the 'Improving the Trade Facilitation Environment (ITFE) in Eastern Africa' project (2019-2024) https://lnkd.in/eeYTNBq welcoming input and participation across the continent. The course is set to launch mid-2024 with access across the continent (keep tabs on this page for updates). The development of the course will engage multiple stakeholders in the AfCFTA space for comprehensive content tailored towards BMOs and experts and business enthusiasts providing support to the private sector to trade under the AfCFTA. . This initiative is a collaboration between The Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI), Intergovernmental Authority on Development , African Development Bank Group (RDGE), and facilitated by the University of Nairobi Department of Economics and Development Studies . #AfCFTAImplementation #Survey #Certification #DoingBusiness #ChamberAfricaConnect 🌍📊

Click on the video below to watch a two minute summary of AfCFTA implementation workshop held in Uganda over the past two days (25-26 March 2024) organised jointly by ODI, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and Uganda's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, with support from UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office). We made a lot of progress and there is also further action to be undertaken in 2 areas: - Taking the next few steeps in the formation and operation of Uganda's AfCFTA national implementation committee - Advancing on utilising the AfCFTA agreement through the Guided Trade Initiative

I've signed the petition advocating for the extension of AGOA to 2035, aligning with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and supporting U.S.-Africa trade relations. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was signed into law in 2000 and has been the foundation of U.S. economic policy and business-related engagement with the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) since its enactment. AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 1,800 products, in addition to the more than 5,000 products that are eligible for duty-free entry under the Generalized System of Preferences(GSP) program. In 2002, 2004, and 2006, Congress passed, and the executive branch implemented legislative enhancements of AGOA. And in 2015, Congress passed the Trade Preferences Extension Act (TPEA), updating and extending the program to 2025. COVID-19’s economic impact presents a threat to US-Africa trade and investment, U.S. – Africa strategic alliances, and gains made over the last two decades using the benefits of AGOA. AGOA has been a long-term commitment with broad bipartisan support; however, it expires in 2025. As a result, we launched the advocacy campaign for the 10-year extension of AGOA during our Roundtable Discussion on the Future of AGOA on December 13, 2022, in Washington, DC, USA, and virtually on the margins of the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit. The campaign advocating for a ten-year extension of AGOA benefits aligns with African Union’s Agenda 2063. We appreciate your interest in AGOA! We invite you to join our petition to the 118th Congress of the United States and the Biden-Harris Administration for the extension of AGOA by signing our request to extend AGOA to 2035. https://lnkd.in/e73BcuNi #agoa #agoacsonspringconference #dcconferneces #agoarenewal #agoaconference #usafricatrade #africaeconomy #africa #civilsociety #civilsocietyconference

The improving Trade Facilitation in IGAD project has been one of my highlights since we began in 2019, steering through change management to adapt to the various crises globally and regionally. As we gear to its final stages closing 2024, the cherry on top is a comprehensive course geared toward Business Support Organizations and AfCFTA enthusiasts to support Private sector engagement in the AFCFTA - building on the project outputs and trainings thus far. The survey is to guide in it's development, format of delivery and facilitate partnerships in the population of content. Only a few minutes of your time to support the mission and get early updates, invitation to validation and ultimately early notification of access once complete. #afcftaimplementation

📝 The African Continental Free Trade Area (#AfCFTA) is entering its fifth year, but meaningful trade is still to begin. There is a lack of ‘policy demand’ from the private sector to use the agreement’s range of protocols. If the AfCFTA is to boost not only trade but industrialisation and create new regional value chains, member states have to foster this demand more effectively. Bruce Byiers with Policy Center for the New South's Larabi Jaïdi and Saloi EL YAMANI offer key recommendations for enhancing private sector engagement and thus the use and impact of the AfCFTA. Read the full brief 👉 https://bit.ly/3yey1qi Requiring: 👀 Increased awareness of practical applications 🤝 Sector-specific support 📝 Strengthening the strategic roles of AU, RECs and the AfCFTA secretariat 💰 Strategic financing for regional value chains 📈 Facilitating cross-border trade and investment. Ultimately, AfCFTA’s success depends on robust implementation, dynamic private sector involvement and tailored strategies to meet diverse economic needs across Africa. MSME AFRICA, IFC - International Finance Corporation, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, AfCFTA Dialogues, African Union - Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry, Minerals (ETTIM)

#newsalert SOUTH AFRICA’S AGOA ELIGIBILITY CONFIRMED FOR 2024 South Africa is one of 32 sub-Saharan African countries eligible to benefit this year from duty-free access to US markets for certain products under the African Growth & Opportunity Act (AGOA). This is according to a list posted on the Office of the United States (US) Trade Representative’s website. An opinion piece penned by Business Leadership SA CEO Busi Mavuso and published by Moneyweb in November 2023 referred to 1 January 2024 as the date on which AGOA eligibility would be announced for the coming year. Unfortunately, the article is available only to Moneyweb premium subscribers. However, the date features in a Moneyweb LinkedIn post circulated at the time. An information sheet on AGOA and South Africa notes that motor vehicles and ferro alloys have topped the list of local products to have benefitted most from duty-free entry to the US since 2000. Others have included citrus and wine. Subscribe to our newsletter on the latest developments in national government and parliament 👉 https://lnkd.in/eis2a-RX Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch #salegalacademy #agoa #southafrica