The U.S. has lagged behind countries such as Brazil and China in its commercial engagement with Africa, just when American markets need it most.
It is hard to imagine a feat more challenging in Washington, D.C. today than forging bipartisan consensus in the United States Congress. However, over the past twelve months, finding common ground and unity is exactly what a small group of legislators have done for what many Americans might find a surprising issue: increasing America's trade with Africa.
Earlier this year, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) mobilized rare, bipartisan support for the "Increasing American Jobs through Greater Exports to Africa Act," which seeks to triple American exports to the region and is considered by many to be the most significant legislation on Africa in the past ten years. Moreover, when congressional gridlock threatened key provisions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which enables qualifying African countries to export duty-free up to 6,400 different product lines to the U.S., a dedicated group of legislators, led by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and John Isakson (R-GA) along with Congresswomen Karen Bass (D-CA) among others, worked tirelessly to save the law from the abyss. Against the odds, the 112th U.S. Congress is making things happen on trade and investment in Africa.
Once synonymous with political strife and corruption, Africa today is home to some of the world's fastest growing economies, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting nearly six percent growth throughout Africa in 2012. Emerging markets such as Brazil, Turkey, and most notably China have shown that investment in today's Africa can substantively boost businesses and create jobs for domestic constituencies. Unfortunately, the U.S. has lagged behind these countries just when American markets need it most.
Expectations many held for a reinvigorated American approach to Africa under President Obama were heightened by the administration's new Strategy on Sub-Saharan Africa, released in June, which included the promise of a "campaign" to enhance U.S. business in Africa. The decision by the U.S. Commerce Department, weeks after the strategy's publication, to reduce its presence to just four Foreign Commercial Service Officers to support American business on the continent sent a contradictory signal, especially when compared to China's estimated 150 commercial attaches and associated staff in its embassies in Africa.
Vanishing budgets, political infighting, and competing priorities are all cited as justification for U.S. government inaction on this issue. In the case of Africa, however, Washington's most common excuse for dysfunction - a do-nothing Congress - can decidedly not be used. The onus is now on the U.S. executive and administrative agencies to take the lead from Congress, overcome persistent obstacles, and work to support U.S. companies through better business with Africa. After all, the current level of American exports to Africa supports more than 100,000 jobs in the U.S. Surely this can be increased given Africa's robust economic growth.
Andrew Westbury is assistant director of the Africa Growth Initiative at the Brookings Institution. Witney Schneidman is a nonresident fellow in the Africa Growth Initiative at the Brookings Institution and a senior adviser for Africa at Covington & Burling.
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My brother you seem to have both bias and ignorance in equal proportions. When did the US become the biggest exploiter in Africa or are you mistaking it for China.Why do you want their technologies if you don`t want their product.
America wants to sell you more goods and you say that this a freind? unless I'm stupid, I would have thought if they were willing to triple imports from AFRICA giving Africans hope they wuld be considered freinds!!!!!. I do not know who is propping up America as Africas friend; the last time I remembered they were the biggest exploiters of Africans in world history' they are the most racist along with thier NATO allies whove all been enslavers extortioners rapers pillagers plunderers torturers kidnappers murderers; I truly want to know what kind of freind is that?? This journalist must either be blind or just plain foolish if he thinks AFRICANS accept these types of pathetic inferences of soliciting Africas new found independence!!!!!Unless America is willing to trade in transfer of technoloogies they are saying nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man, since when this can be called frienship? if US has openned for Africa to export that you could call friendship. Business administration classes!!!
Andrew Westbury rightly points out that the American public generally takes a negative view of the African sub-continent. So there is no great impetus to spend a lot of money promoting mutual trade. This, as he notes, is very short-sighted. It would be great to see an occasional feature story on the evening news that focuses on the everyday functional lives of Africans and local African business and development projects. As a social studies educator I believe that American youngsters know more about Africa than past generations. But for most Americans, Africa is still the "dark continent."
Martyb
You say,in your post,that young Americans know Africa than the previous generation?Where are you from?I wonder what the source of your false appeal to authority is.
Why,still today,is an avarage African being asked whether they wear real clothes back home?Asked whether they have really killed a lion with a spear.Asked if they have ever driven in a car,or if thier countries have tarred roads.
The only young who know about Africa are the military spies and intelligence officials who are serving a regime which is constanlty watching our continent; making sure it always lags behind militarily, developmentally and politically.
That said,the only relationship between Africa and America is PARASITIS!Our minerals and oil,which America is getting at no price.It forces the continent to export raw materials,and the same the stupid continent to import finished goods (from our own raws) at inflated prices.
And that,is insured by overthrowing nationalist leaders and putting puppets like Tsvangirai,Zuma,Outarra etc,who will make sure that business with the colonial master is not disturbed.
To the author,you tried your best,but YOU ARE LYING.You for one,unless you are stupid,will not take someone who steals from you, dictate your life and friends as a friend.
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