U.S.-Africa Trade: Options for Congressional Consideration to Improve Textile and Apparel Sector Competitiveness under the African Growth and Opportunity Act

摘要

According to U.S. government officials, sub-Saharan Africa's (SSA) textile and apparel industry has not achieved the growth anticipated under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Despite the tariff reductions under AGOA, after an initial surge, U.S. imports of these products from beneficiary countries have declined in recent years. In view of this outcome, the 2008 Andean Trade Preference Extension legislation required GAO to prepare a report identifying changes to U.S. trade preference programs 'to provide incentives to increase investment and other measures necessary to improve the competitiveness of (SSA) beneficiary countries in the production of yarns, fabric, and other textile and apparel inputs.' This report is intended to provide Congress a range of options put forward by experts for (1) possible changes to AGOA or other U.S. trade preference programs and (2) other measures the U.S. government could take to help increase investment in and improve competitiveness of SSA textile and apparel inputs production. To address these objectives, GAO considered the findings of a study prepared by the U.S. International Trade Commission that identified products that could be produced competitively in AGOA beneficiary countries. GAO also convened a panel of experts and key informants to discuss their views and prioritize the options that GAO identified.