Tanzania’s private sector calls for more products on Agoa list
The minister for Investment, Industry and Trade, Dr Ashatu Kijaji PHOTO| COURTESY
What you need to know:
- Currently, Agoa allows over 6,500 products to be exported.
Dar es Salaam. Members of the business community want more products to be included on the list of those eligible for the US’ African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).
That way, Tanzania and Africa in general, will benefit more from the US market access under Agoa which was first passed by the US Congress in 2000, according to the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF).
Currently, Agoa allows over 6,500 products to be exported.
It expires in 2025, having been extended four times.
Initially, it was meant to last until 2007 but was amended to clarify on preferential treatment of African goods and other standards required of goods.
Speaking at an audience with the US Administrator Foreign Agricultural Service, Mr Daniel Whitley, during last week’s Agoa forum in Johannesburg, the acting executive director for the TPSF, Mr Raphael Maganga, it would be of the interests of members of the business community if the number of products were increased.
“In order for Africa to benefit, Agoa has to be expanded in two ways, first would be to expand its product coverage and second would be to expand its country coverage. In terms of product coverage, Africa is the next food basket for the region, we need more access to USA market for our agricultural products such as Tanzania’s Avocados,” said Mr Maganga.
Tanzania delegation to the forum was led by the Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr Ashatu Kijaji.
Leading the Tanzania delegation, Minister Kijaji expressed her gratitude to the US government for Agoa and her desire to it.
The Tanzanian delegation also had a meeting with the delegation of the US House of Representative and the discussion stemmed on the need to create a durable, valuable Agoa program in context of African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA).
The current Agoa arrangement expires in 2025, having been extended four times before.
Initially, it was meant to last until 2007 but was amended to clarify on preferential treatment of African goods and other standards required of goods.
