US President Joe Biden says he intends to exclude Burkina Faso from a trade deal that gives exporters in Africa tariff-free access to the American market.
President Biden cited Burkina Faso’s lack of progress towards protecting its rule of law and political pluralism for terminating the country as a beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Acts ( AGOA).
He said he intends to terminate the designation of Burkina Faso as a beneficiary, Sub -Saharan African country under the AGOA effective January next year.
US Trade representative Katherine Tai said in a statement that the US is deeply concerned about the unconstitutional changes in government in Burkina Faso.
“Today, President Biden announced his intent to terminate Burkina Faso from the AGOA trade preference program as of January 1, 2023. Our Administration is deeply concerned by the unconstitutional changes in government in Burkina Faso.
The country is set to be removed from this program for failing to meet the requirements of AGOA. The United States urges Burkina Faso to take necessary actions to meet the statutory criteria and return to elective democracy. I will provide Burkina Faso with clear benchmarks for a pathway toward reinstatement and our Administration will work with them to achieve that objective.”
