Why the US should not allow Ethiopia to rejoin AGOA

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a trade preference program that allows eligible sub-Saharan African countries to export certain goods to the United States duty-free. The program was launched in 2000 and has been credited with boosting trade and investment in Africa.

The US Trade Representative (USTR) reviews AGOA eligibility annually and can suspend or terminate a country's beneficiary status if it does not meet the eligibility criteria.

The following are some of the key eligibility criteria for AGOA:

• Market-based economy: AGOA requires eligible countries to have established or be making continual progress toward establishing a market-based economy. This means that the country must have a system of private ownership, competition, and free markets.

• Rule of law and political pluralism: AGOA also requires eligible countries to have established or be making continual progress toward establishing the rule of law and political pluralism. This means that the country must have a system of government that is based on the rule of law, with an independent judiciary and a respect for human rights.

• Trade and investment liberalization: AGOA requires eligible countries to eliminate barriers to US trade and investment. This means that the country must have a relatively open economy with few tariffs and other trade barriers.

• Worker rights: AGOA requires eligible countries to protect worker rights. This includes the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, the right to a safe and healthy workplace, and the prohibition of child labor.

• Human rights: AGOA also requires eligible countries to protect human rights. This includes the right to life, liberty, and security of person; the right to freedom from torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; and the right to freedom of expression and opinion.

The AGOA eligibility criteria are designed to promote economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa. By meeting these criteria, countries can access the US market duty-free, which can help them to increase their exports and attract foreign investment.

Why AGOA was cancelled to Ethiopia?

Ethiopia was one of the original beneficiaries of AGOA, but its participation was suspended in January 2022 due to gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.

The US government cited the following specific concerns in its decision to suspend Ethiopia's AGOA benefits:

1. The ongoing war in Tigray, which has been accompanied by widespread reports of human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, rape, and torture.

2. The government's crackdown on dissent and free speech, including the arrest and detention of journalists, activists, and opposition politicians.

3. The humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, which has left millions of people in need of food, water, and medical care.

The US government stated that Ethiopia would need to take significant steps to address these concerns before its AGOA benefits could be reinstated. The government also set out clear benchmarks for reinstatement, including:

• An end to the war in Tigray and the establishment of a sustainable ceasefire.

• The withdrawal of all Eritrean forces from Ethiopia.

• A commitment to respect human rights and the rule of law.

• The release of all political prisoners and the restoration of free speech and assembly.

• Unrestricted access for humanitarian aid workers to all parts of Ethiopia.

To date, Ethiopia has not made significant progress on meeting these benchmarks. As a result, its AGOA benefits remain suspended.

The suspension of AGOA benefits has sent a strong message to the Ethiopian government that the US is serious about promoting human rights and democracy in Africa. It is hoped that the government will take the necessary steps to address the US government's concerns so that its AGOA benefits can be reinstated.

Recent conversations regarding Ethiopia and AGOA

Ethiopia requests reinstatement into AGOA

In March 2023, Ethiopia sent a letter to the US Trade Representative (USTR) requesting reinstatement into the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The letter argued that Ethiopia had made significant progress in addressing the US government's concerns, including the signing of a peace agreement with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in November 2022 and the release of political prisoners.

US government expresses willingness to consider reinstatement

The US government has expressed willingness to consider Ethiopia's request for reinstatement into AGOA. However, the government has also stated that Ethiopia will need to demonstrate that it has made sustained progress in implementing the peace agreement and improving its human rights record.

Ongoing conversations between the US and Ethiopia

The US and Ethiopia are currently engaged in ongoing conversations regarding Ethiopia's AGOA eligibility. These conversations are focused on assessing Ethiopia's progress on implementing the peace agreement, improving its human rights record, and meeting the other benchmarks set by the US government for reinstatement into AGOA.

Obstacles to reinstatement

There are a number of obstacles to Ethiopia's reinstatement into AGOA. These include:

• The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Tigray.

• The continued presence of Eritrean forces in Tigray.

• The government's crackdown on dissent and free speech.

Outlook for reinstatement

The outlook for Ethiopia's reinstatement into AGOA is uncertain. The US government has stated that it will only reinstate Ethiopia's AGOA benefits if Ethiopia makes sustained progress in addressing the US government's concerns. However, it is unclear whether Ethiopia will be able to meet these benchmarks in the near future.

The recent conversations regarding Ethiopia and AGOA reflect the US government's commitment to promoting human rights and democracy in Africa. The US government has made it clear that Ethiopia will need to make significant progress in addressing the US government's concerns before its AGOA benefits can be reinstated.

Why Ethiopia should not be admitted to AGOA

Despite Ethiopia's request for reinstatement, there are a number of reasons why Ethiopia should not be admitted to AGOA.

First, Ethiopia has not made progress in addressing the US government's concerns. There is still ongoing humanitarian crisis and presence of Eritrean troops in Tigray. Further, there are still reports of human rights abuses in Tigray. The government is still cracking down on dissent, and the humanitarian crisis is still severe.

Second, admitting Ethiopia to AGOA would send a mixed message about the US commitment to human rights. It would suggest that the US is willing to overlook human rights abuses in order to promote trade. This would be a dangerous precedent to set.

Third, admitting Ethiopia to AGOA would benefit the Ethiopian government not the Ethiopian people. The Ethiopian government has been accused of using AGOA to enrich itself and its cronies. It is unlikely that AGOA benefits would trickle down to the Ethiopian people, especially those living in poverty.

Fourth, admitting Ethiopia to AGOA would undermine the credibility of AGOA itself. AGOA is supposed to be a program that rewards African countries for promoting democracy and human rights. Admitting Ethiopia to AGOA would send the message that AGOA is simply a trade program, and that human rights are not a priority.

For all of these reasons, Ethiopia should not be admitted to AGOA. The US government should focus on helping Ethiopia to address its human rights problems and to end the genocide in Tigray before considering reinstating Ethiopia's AGOA benefits.