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February 16, 2024
Mr. Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Petition for Timely Re-Authorization and Enhancement of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Beyond 2025
We, the undersigned members of the AGOA Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network and other stakeholders from across the United States and AGOA-eligible countries, committed to sustained U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa trade and economic cooperation hereby petition for your support for the timely re-authorization/extension and enhancement of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by the 118th Congress.
The AGOA Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network is a consortium of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), small- to medium-sized businesses, chambers of commerce, and other groups from the United States and Africa interested in the successful application of AGOA for the benefit of the American and African people.
The AGOA CSO Network Secretariat was established at the conclusion of the AGOA Civil Society Forum in Phoenix, Mauritius, by 102- member organizations from the United States, Mauritius, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Mali, Lesotho, and the Democratic Republic of Congo on January 17, 2003. The Foundation for Democracy in Africa (FDA) and the Mauritius Council of Social Services were elected as co-chairs and empowered to establish and manage the Secretariat for the AGOA CSO Network. Additionally, the Secretariat was mandated to make all the necessary preparations for subsequent AGOA Civil Society Sessions of the annual AGOA Forum.
About the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was signed into law in 2000 and has been the cornerstone of U.S. economic policy and business-related engagement with the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) since its enactment.
In 2002, 2004, and 2006, with bi-partisan support, Congress passed, and the Executive Branch implemented legislative enhancements of AGOA. In 2015, Congress passed the Trade Preferences Extension Act (TPEA), updating and extending the program to September 30, 2025. AGOA trade preference benefits continue to help lower the cost of trade, encourage investment in the region, and help create valuable opportunities for U.S. businesses, workers, and consumers.
AGOA has played an integral role in creating sustainable economic growth and development, poverty reduction, democracy, the rule of law, and stability in Sub-Saharan Africa and helped create 120,000 jobs in the United States and about one million direct and indirect positions across Sub-Saharan Africa.
U.S. total goods imports under AGOA (including GSP) totaled $6.7 billion in 2021 compared to $8.4 billion in 2019. This decline was the result of the lower value of oil imports. However, non-oil imports under AGOA, a key source of new investment and
jobs, increased to $4.8 billion in 2021 from $3.8 billion in 2019. South Africa (the largest non-oil AGOA beneficiary) has exported the widest selection of products under AGOA, ranging from passenger vehicles to citrus products, yachts, and frozen sorbet.
Today, only 32 of 49 Sub-Saharan countries are eligible for AGOA benefits.
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