Ethiopia requests to rejoin US AGOA program --[Reported by Umva mag]

Ethiopia has requested the United States to restore its status under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) that allows the East African nation to access the U.S. market with duty free goods.

Taye Atseke- Selassie, Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, made the request on Saturday while holding talks with the visiting U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Ambassador Mike Hammer, according to a statement.

The meeting followed a press briefing earlier that day by Ambassador Hammer, where he clarified that while the U.S. government would like to see Ethiopia return to AGOA, human rights concerns remain a key obstacle.

 “There is a requirement that there not be any violations of human rights by government forces,” Hammer explained.

“As long as abuses and atrocities continue, reintegration into AGOA will not be possible” he said.

The US had removed Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea from its duty- free trade program over alleged human rights and violation of AGOA status.

The AGOA sanction by Washington affected Ethiopia’s trade privileges which once allowed the country to export goods to the U.S. duty-free, generating over $100 million annually.

Although Ethiopia has been working to lift the AGOA ban and restore trade relations, the ongoing sanctions reflect Washington’s stance that Addis Ababa must address human rights violations and restore peace in the northern region before those privileges can be reinstated.

MG/as/APA

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