By Emmanuel Nduka
Ethiopia’s attempt to rejoin the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has been rejected once again, as the U.S. Trade Representative confirmed that the list of eligible African countries for the upcoming fiscal year will remain unchanged.
Heritage Times HT reports that the latest decision ensures that Ethiopia remains ineligible for AGOA benefits, despite its efforts to regain access to the trade arrangement.
Earlier in July this year, Ethiopian officials engaged in discussions with U.S. trade representatives to explore possible amendments to AGOA, but the recent announcement leaves Ethiopia’s suspension intact.
This follows an executive order signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021, which removed Ethiopia from AGOA after the escalation of its conflict and documented human rights violations.
The exclusion of Ethiopia from AGOA has had far-reaching consequences. Several foreign companies that were operating in Ethiopia’s industrial parks, attracted by the trade benefits, closed down and left the country.
The Ethiopian government has condemned the decision, calling it “misguided” and arguing that it fails to recognize the hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
It highlighted that the suspension affects the livelihoods of more than 200,000 low-income households, predominantly women, who are unrelated to the conflict yet suffer the consequences of the trade restrictions.
The Ethiopian government continues to emphasize its commitment to improving human rights, while seeking the return of AGOA benefits to alleviate the economic impact on its vulnerable population.
