The US has blocked Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea from having access to its duty-free trade programme with Africa over alleged human rights abuses and recent coups. It also piles more pressure on an economy reeling from the conflict, the coronavirus pandemic and high inflation. The AGOA trade legislation provides sub-Saharan African nations with duty-free access to the US if they meet certain eligibility requirements, such as eliminating barriers to US trade and investment and making progress towards political pluralism. "Each country has clear benchmarks for a pathway towards reinstatement and the administration will work with their governments to achieve that objective," the US Trade Representative's office said. Ethiopia's Trade Ministry said it November it was "extremely disappointed" by Washington's announcement, saying the move would reverse economic gains and unfairly affect and harm women and children.

Source: Ethiopian News January 02, 2022 05:32 UTC