US goes high-end to boost export trade with Africa

AGOA agreement

Ten years later, trade between US and Africa under the AGOA agreement has flourished, putting to work thousands of people across the continent employed in the agro-processing and apparel manufacturing industry. 

AGOA exports to America soared to $86 billion in 2008 from $50.3 billion in 2005, according to latest numbers from the US Department of Commerce. 

But the sweetheart deal is set to expire in 2015, unless the US Congress votes to extend its life. 

Mr Carson, who talks passionately about the trade policy, fears the window could close before achieving its core objective of putting African goods on the global trade map. 

“Unfortunately African countries are not doing enough to take advantage of this provision, it was meant to improve their competitiveness in the global markets,” says Carson.