The White House stated on Wednesday that Burkina Faso will not be a part of the trade pact that brings the world’s most powerful nation and African nations (November 2).
After two military coups since the beginning of 2022, the White House used the lack of progress towards a restoration to democracy as justification for the decision.
“I have made this decision because I have determined that the government of Burkina Faso has not established, or made continued progress toward establishing, respect for the rule of law and political pluralism,” which are necessary elements of the African Growth Opportunities Act (Agoa) program, U.S. President Joe Biden said in a letter sent to the U.S. Congress.
The letter stated that the exclusion of the West African nation will take effect on January 1 of the following year.
U.S. Trade Ambassador Katherine Tai emphasized in a statement that “Burkina Faso must take the required steps to fulfil the requirements of the agreement and the restoration of democracy.
“I will provide Burkina Faso with a clear roadmap to reintegrate into the program and our administration will work with them to make that happen,” Tai said.
Agoa, which was founded in 2000 and updates its list of recipient nations yearly, establishes commercial and economic ties with the African continent.
In order to encourage economic development, it makes it easier for African goods to be exported to the US.
Thousands of African items may be eligible for lower import duties under this agreement, provided that requirements relating to worker protection, good governance, and human rights are met.
With the same justification that these three states had broken the program’s rules, the United States earlier this year also kicked out Ethiopia, Mali, and Guinea from the programme.
Since 2015, Burkina Faso has experienced an increase in terrorist assaults that have claimed thousands of lives and driven two million people from their homes. Since the year’s commencement, Burkina Faso has also had two military coups.
President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was overthrown on January 24 by soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. He was later overthrown by Captain Ibrahim Traoré on September 30.
