19 USC 3703 - Eligibility requirements

Collapse to view only § 3703. Eligibility requirements

§ 3701. Findings
§ 3702. Statement of policy
§ 3703. Eligibility requirements
§ 3704. United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum
§ 3705. Reporting requirement
§ 3706. Sub-Saharan Africa defined
§ 3707. Activities in support of transparency

§ 3701. Findings

Congress finds that—

(1) it is in the mutual interest of the United States and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa to promote stable and sustainable economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa;

(2) the countries of sub-Saharan Africa form a region richly endowed with both natural and human resources;

(3) sub-Saharan Africa represents a region of enormous economic potential and of enduring political significance to the United States;

(4) the region has experienced the strengthening of democracy as countries in sub-Saharan Africa have taken steps to encourage broader participation in the political process;

(5) certain countries in sub-Saharan Africa have increased their economic growth rates, taken significant steps towards liberalizing their economies, and made progress toward regional economic integration that can have positive benefits for the region;

(6) despite those gains, the per capita income in sub-Saharan Africa averages approximately $500 annually;

(7) trade and investment, as the American experience has shown, can represent powerful tools both for economic development and for encouraging broader participation in a political process in which political freedom can flourish;

(8) increased trade and investment flows have the greatest impact in an economic environment in which trading partners eliminate barriers to trade and capital flows and encourage the development of a vibrant private sector that offers individual African citizens the freedom to expand their economic opportunities and provide for their families;

(9) offering the countries of sub-Saharan Africa enhanced trade preferences will encourage both higher levels of trade and direct investment in support of the positive economic and political developments under way throughout the region; and

(10) encouraging the reciprocal reduction of trade and investment barriers in Africa will enhance the benefits of trade and investment for the region as well as enhance commercial and political ties between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa.

(Pub. L. 106–200, title I, § 102, May 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 252; Pub. L. 112–163, § 1(c), Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1274.)

§ 3702. Statement of policy

Congress supports—

(1) encouraging increased trade and investment between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa;

(2) reducing tariff and nontariff barriers and other obstacles to sub-Saharan African and United States trade;

(3) expanding United States assistance to sub-Saharan Africa’s regional integration efforts;

(4) negotiating reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade agreements, including the possibility of establishing free trade areas that serve the interests of both the United States and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa;

(5) focusing on countries committed to the rule of law, economic reform, and the eradication of poverty;

(6) strengthening and expanding the private sector in sub-Saharan Africa, especially enterprises owned by women and small businesses;

(7) facilitating the development of civil societies and political freedom in sub-Saharan Africa;

(8) establishing a United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum;

(9) the accession of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions; and

(10) promoting the role of women in social, political, and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa.

(Pub. L. 106–200, title I, § 103, May 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 253; Pub. L. 114–27, title I, § 106(a), June 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 368.)

§ 3703. Eligibility requirementsThe President is authorized to designate a sub-Saharan African country as an eligible sub-Saharan African country if the President determines that the country—

(1) has established, or is making continual progress toward establishing—

(A) a market-based economy that protects private property rights for men and women, incorporates an open rules-based trading system, and minimizes government interference in the economy through measures such as price controls, subsidies, and government ownership of economic assets;

(B) the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process, a fair trial, and equal protection under the law;

(i) the provision of national treatment and measures to create an environment conducive to domestic and foreign investment;

(ii) the protection of intellectual property; and

(iii) the resolution of bilateral trade and investment disputes;

(D) economic policies to reduce poverty, increase the availability of health care and educational opportunities, expand physical infrastructure, promote the development of private enterprise, and encourage the formation of capital markets through micro-credit or other programs;

(E) a system to combat corruption and bribery, such as signing and implementing the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions; and

(F) protection of internationally recognized worker rights, including the right of association, the right to organize and bargain collectively, a prohibition on the use of any form of forced or compulsory labor, a minimum age for the employment of children, and acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health;

(2) does not engage in activities that undermine United States national security or foreign policy interests; and

(3) does not engage in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights or provide support for acts of international terrorism and cooperates in international efforts to eliminate human rights violations and terrorist activities.

(Pub. L. 106–200, title I, § 104, May 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 254; Pub. L. 114–27, title I, §§ 106(b), 111, June 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 368, 370.)

§ 3704. United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum

(a) Declaration of policy

(b) Establishment

In creating the Forum, the President shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The President shall direct the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of State, and the United States Trade Representative to host the first annual meeting with their counterparts from the governments of sub-Saharan African countries eligible under section 3703 of this title, and those sub-Saharan African countries that the President determines are taking substantial positive steps towards meeting the eligibility requirements in section 3703 of this title. The purpose of the meeting shall be to discuss expanding trade and investment relations between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa and the implementation of this chapter including encouraging joint ventures between small and large businesses. The President shall also direct the Secretaries and the United States Trade Representative to invite to the meeting representatives from appropriate sub-Saharan African regional organizations and government officials from other appropriate countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

(2)

(A) The President, in consultation with the Congress, shall encourage United States nongovernmental organizations to host annual meetings with nongovernmental organizations from sub-Saharan Africa in conjunction with the annual meetings of the Forum for the purpose of discussing the issues described in paragraph (1).

(B) The President, in consultation with the Congress, shall encourage United States representatives of the private sector to host annual meetings with representatives of the private sector from sub-Saharan Africa in conjunction with the annual meetings of the Forum for the purpose of discussing the issues described in paragraph (1).

(3) The President shall, to the extent practicable, meet with the heads of governments of sub-Saharan African countries eligible under section 3703 of this title, and those sub-Saharan African countries that the President determines are taking substantial positive steps toward meeting the eligibility requirements in section 3703 of this title, not less than once every 2 years for the purpose of discussing the issues described in paragraph (1). The first such meeting should take place not later than 12 months after May 18, 2000.

(d) Dissemination of information by USIS

(e) HIV/AIDS effect on the sub-Saharan African workforce

(Pub. L. 106–200, title I, § 105, May 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 255.)

§ 3705. Reporting requirement

The President shall submit to the Congress, not later than 1 year after May 18, 2000, and annually thereafter through 2008, a comprehensive report on the trade and investment policy of the United States for sub-Saharan Africa, and on the implementation of this chapter and the amendments made by this chapter.

(Pub. L. 106–200, title I, § 106, May 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 256.)

§ 3706. Sub-Saharan Africa defined

For purposes of this chapter, the terms “sub-Saharan Africa”, “sub-Saharan African country”, “country in sub-Saharan Africa”, and “countries in sub-Saharan Africa” refer to the following or any successor political entities:

Republic of Angola (Angola).

Republic of Benin (Benin).

Republic of Botswana (Botswana).

Burkina Faso (Burkina).

Republic of Burundi (Burundi).

Republic of Cameroon (Cameroon).

Republic of Cape Verde (Cape Verde).

Central African Republic.

Republic of Chad (Chad).

(Pub. L. 106–200, title I, § 107, May 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 256; Pub. L. 112–163, § 1(b), Aug. 10, 2012, 126 Stat. 1274.)

§ 3707. Activities in support of transparency

(a) AGOA Website

(1) In general

(2) Contents

The President shall publish on the AGOA Website the information described in paragraph (1), including—

(A) information and technical assistance provided at United States Agency for International Development regional trade hubs; and

(B) a link to the websites of United States embassies located in eligible sub-Saharan African countries.

(3) Actions by United States embassies

The Secretary of State should direct United States embassies located in eligible sub-Saharan African countries to—

(A) encourage individuals and businesses in such countries to use the benefits available under the African Growth and Opportunity Act; and

(B) include a link to the AGOA Website on the websites of such diplomatic missions.

(b) AGOA Forum

After each meeting of the United States–Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, the President should publish on the AGOA Website the following:

(1) The outcomes of the meeting of the Forum, including any commitments made by member countries and the private sector.

(2) An assessment of progress made with respect to any commitments made by member countries and the private sector from the previous meeting of the Forum.

(Pub. L. 115–167, title I, § 103, Apr. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1277.)