U.S. to Remove Four African Nations from Preferential Trade Program

The Biden administration has announced plans to remove Niger, Gabon, Central African Republic, and Uganda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) preferential trade system starting in January 2024. The decision comes in response to the anti-Western authoritarian governments and anti-homosexuality policies in these countries.

Under AGOA, eligible sub-Saharan African countries receive duty-free access to the U.S. market. However, the recent actions and policies of the four nations have led to their impending removal from the program. In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni signed a law making aggravated homosexuality a capital offense and same-sex relations punishable by life in prison. This move triggered outrage from human rights groups, the United Nations, and Western powers.

The controversial Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda has drawn international condemnation, with activists calling for the European Union to impose sanctions on the country. However, the EU has faced criticism for not taking stronger action, such as suspending aid to Uganda. The World Bank Group has already suspended new loans to the country over the law.

Why this matters: The removal of these four African nations from the AGOA program highlights the ongoing tensions between Western nations and countries with authoritarian and anti-LGBTQ+ policies. The decision may have significant economic and diplomatic consequences for the affected countries, as they lose preferential access to the U.S. market.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi also condemned Western attitudes on homosexuality during a visit to Uganda, further underscoring the divide between the nations. The Biden administration's decision to remove Niger, Gabon, Central African Republic, and Uganda from the AGOA program sends a clear message about the consequences of adopting anti-Western and anti-LGBTQ+ policies.

Key Takeaways

• Biden admin to remove 4 African nations from AGOA trade program in 2024.
• Decision due to anti-Western authoritarianism and anti-LGBTQ+ policies in these countries.
• Uganda's "kill the gays" law sparked international outrage and sanctions.
• Removal from AGOA may have significant economic and diplomatic consequences.
• Biden's decision sends a message about consequences of anti-Western, anti-LGBTQ+ policies.