The United States has announced its intention to reinstate Mauritania’s benefits within the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) program, with the reinstatement set to occur in January of the next year.
This decision comes after Mauritania “substantial and measurable progress on worker rights and eliminating forced labour”, according to the US trade office.
Mauritania had its trade benefits suspended in 2019 due to concerns regarding labor rights violations.
In contrast, President Joe Biden recently declared the termination of AGOA benefits for Gabon, Niger, Uganda, and the Central African Republic (CAR).
Gabon and Niger lost AGOA eligibility due to recent coups, while Uganda and CAR had their benefits revoked over human rights violations.
Previously, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea had also been expelled from AGOA following military takeovers.
Mauritania’s economy is primarily driven by extractive industries, particularly oil and minerals, which make up more than 75% of its exports.
Additionally, fisheries, animal farming, and plant agriculture play a significant role in the country’s government revenues.
The AGOA program, established in 2000, grants eligible sub-Saharan African nations duty-free access to the United States for over 1,800 different products.
Source-BBC
