Africa: US International Trade Commission Releases Report On US Sub-Saharan Trade Policy

15 January 2003

Lagos — The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has released a series of reports intended to assist the current administration of President George Bush in developing a comprehensive trade and development policy for the countries of sub-Saharan Africa.

The report tagged, "US.-Trade and Investment with Sub-Saharan Africa," the third in the series, is allegedly a compilation of facts limited to the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The current report provided an update for 2001 on US.-SSA trade and investment flows in major sectors; information on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA); a discussion of major developments in trade and economic policies that significantly affected US.-SSA bilateral trade and investment; an update on progress in regional integration in sub-Saharan Africa; and a compilation of multilateral assistance, US. bilateral assistance and trade-related initiatives related to sub-Saharan Africa. The report also contained economic profiles for each of the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa and sector profiles for five major SSA export sectors: agricultural, fisheries, and forest products; chemicals; petroleum and energy related products; minerals and metals; and textiles and apparel. Some of the highlights of the report included the fact that, in 2001, a decrease in US. imports from, and an increase in exports to, sub-Saharan Africa resulted in a 13.9 percent decrease in the long-standing US. trade deficit with the region. The 2001 deficit allegedly measured $14.3 billion, with much of its decrease due to a 58.8 percent increase in US. exports of transportation equipment and a 20 percent rise in machinery products.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.