WASHINGTON – United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai this week hosted the 2024 U.S.-sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (AGOA Forum) in Washington, D.C.
The AGOA Forum brought together senior government officials from the United States and AGOA-eligible countries, as well as representatives from continental and regional economic organizations, labor, civil society, and the private sector. Under the theme “Beyond 2025: Reimagining AGOA for an Inclusive, Sustainable and Prosperous Tomorrow,” the U.S. delegation underscored the United States’ commitment to the AGOA program and led discussions on a broad range of topics, including using AGOA to drive more inclusive and sustainable economic development for Africans and Americans and further strengthen U.S.-Africa economic relations.
During the AGOA Forum, Ambassador Tai facilitated a session with Members of Congress and African ministers on AGOA reauthorization. She also held bilateral meetings with African Union Trade Commissioner Albert Muchanga; Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry Kobina Tahir Hammond; Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite; and South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau.
Chief Agricultural Negotiator Ambassador Doug McKalip met with Angola’s Secretary for Economic Affairs Milton Parmédio dos Santos Reis and Mauritius’ Ambassador N. Chedumbarum, Head of the Economic Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade. Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for African Affairs Constance Hamilton met with Rwanda’s Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Jean-Chrysostome Ngabitsinze and Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Trade Alfred K’Ombudo.
AGOA Forum participants included trade ministers from 32 AGOA-eligible countries. The U.S. delegation included Members of Congress and professional staff from the United States Congress, and senior government officials from the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Labor, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Prosper Africa, the Small Business Administration, the United States Trade and Development Agency, the United States International Development Finance Corporation, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the National Security Council.
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