U.S. Removes Ethiopia, Mali, Guinea From Trade Programme Over Coup, Rights Violation

The United States has removed Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea from a duty-free trade programme over claims of coups and alleged human rights violations.

In a statement released on Saturday by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), it was declared that the countries were terminated from benefiting from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

“Due to actions taken by each of the three countries governments in violation of the AGOA Statute. The U.S. was deeply concerned by their gross violations of internationally recognised human rights being perpetrated by the government of Ethiopia, as well as the unconstitutional change in governments in both Guinea and Mali”.

The USTR added that Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea may still rejoin the pact if they meet the statute’s provisions.

The AGOA trade legislation is a programme that provides sub-Saharan African countries with access to the U.S. if they meet certain eligibility requirements, such as eliminating barriers to U.S. trade and investment.