The return to the program will be effective from January 1st 2024. Former President Trump in 2019 removed the country from the AGOA arguing that authorities failed to protect workers, as required under a key AGOA provision. “In particular, Mauritania has made insufficient progress toward combating forced labor, specifically, the scourge of hereditary slavery”, Trump said. American labor leaders in 2018 warned that conditions in Mauritania should disqualify the nation from participating in AGOA. The leaders and US anti-slavery activists had accused the Mauritania of arresting anti-slavery activists.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 02, 2023 00:07 UTC