Washington, DC — Nigeria is now the largest United States (U.S.) trading partner in the Sub-sahara African region, with bilateral trade (both import and export) totaling $30billion dollars as at 2006.

In what is also an indication of the country's slow but growing effort to diversify its revenue base,non-oil exports to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) almost doubled totaling $1.375million in the period under review.

Under AGOA, US imports from Nigeria have grown to include leather products, cocoa products, wood products, spices, prepared fruits and vegetables, and footwear. In an interview with THISDAY in Washington, D.C., the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Florizelle Liser said the US government wants Nigeria to take its rightful place in the international trading community seeing it has huge potentials.

US imports from Nigeria under AGOA in 2006 totaled $25.8 billion, up by 15 per cent compared to 2005, mostly due to increases in oil imports, she stated.

In continuation of this bilateral relationship, Liser will lead a delegation to Nigeria between December 11-12 for a council meeting of the U.S.-Nigeria Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).

She is expected to co-chair the meeting with Nigerian Minister of Commerce Charles Ugwu. Under TIFA, the US and Nigeria can discuss trade, intellectual property rights, and the implementation of AGOA.

As a result of this dialogue, expanded trade and investment opportunities which will benefit both the U.S. and Nigeria, is expected, said Liser. It would be recalled that the American Business Council (ABC) Nigerian Chapter, was recently launched by the US Chamber of Commerce.

President of ABC, DickKramer told THISDAY the council aims to put in placethe right kind of institutions and practices thatwould facilitate trade in the long term.

Having spent 29 years in Nigeria, Kramer said thecountry has done well in the last four years. "We have to knit partnership between both countries.This time is come for this idea because Nigeria showsit is getting its acts together politically,economically and otherwise. There's been enormousprogress in the last four years," he observed.

The Council will focus on bilateral rights, tradetreaties, infrastructure, education, healthcare andinstitution building, he stated.