“We are extremely disappointed by the threat of AGOA withdrawal currently under consideration by the U.S. trade representative, Katherine Tai, said in a statement her office would “provide each country with clear benchmarks for a pathway toward reinstatement and our administration will work with them to achieve that objective.”Įthiopia’s government had lobbied openly against the move. The president said Ethiopia was in “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.” Biden also cited Guinea and Mali, which have experienced coups this year, in the letter for being out of compliance. trade and investment and making progress toward political pluralism. The program provides sub-Saharan African nations duty-free access to the United States on the condition they meet certain requirements, including eliminating barriers to U.S. trade program, setting the path for further sanctions against the African nation over its failure to end a nearly yearlong war in the Tigray region that has led to “gross violations” of human rights.īiden in a letter to Congress said Ethiopia has not met eligibility requirements to remain a beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he’s decided to cut out Ethiopia from a U.S.