Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE97769
2009-09-21 16:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
AGOA ELIGIBILITY REVIEW
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 097769
SIPDIS
LIBREVILLE FOR SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
PORT LOUIS FOR THE SEYCHELLES
ANTANANARIVO FOR THE COMOROS
PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON ENRG ETRD PHUM
SUBJECT: AGOA ELIGIBILITY REVIEW
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 097769
SIPDIS
LIBREVILLE FOR SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
PORT LOUIS FOR THE SEYCHELLES
ANTANANARIVO FOR THE COMOROS
PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON ENRG ETRD PHUM
SUBJECT: AGOA ELIGIBILITY REVIEW
1. This is an action request. Please see Paragraphs 3 -
6.
2. Background. USTR is requesting information for
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) country
eligibility in 2010. AGOA requires an annual review of
compliance with the Act's eligibility criteria for each
country currently eligible for AGOA, countries seeking
initial eligibility, and countries seeking restoration of
lost eligibility. Among other considerations, governments
must have established, or made continual progress in
establishing the following: (1) a market-based economy;
(2) rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due
process; (3) elimination of barriers to US trade and
investment; (4) economic policies to reduce poverty; (5) a
system to combat corruption; and (6) protection of worker
rights. Additionally, countries (7) should not engage in
activities that undermine U.S. national security or
foreign policy interests; and (8) should not engage in
gross violations of internationally recognized human
rights or provide support for acts of international
terrorism. Full eligibility requirements are described in
section 104 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act,
available on the internet at www.agoa.gov. End
Background.
3. Action request: In preparation for the upcoming
interagency review process on country eligibility, posts
are requested to update the information provided in 2008
on country performance in each of the above mentioned
areas, unless otherwise noted in these instructions. The
period under review is October 2008 through October 2009.
Posts should update their country background summary and
identify major strengths and major issues/problems in the
areas of: 1) Market-based Economy; 2) Political
Reform/Rule of Law/Anti-corruption; (3) Poverty Reduction;
(4) Workers' Rights/Child Labor/Human Rights; and (5)
International Terrorism/US National Security. No reports
are required for Somalia or Sudan, as these countries have
not requested AGOA benefits and therefore will not be
reviewed. Dakar please provide input for Guinea-Bissau,
STATE 00097769 002 OF 002
Libreville for Sao Tome and Principe, and Port Louis for
Seychelles. Posts should update the information in their
2008 submissions, keeping in mind the eligibility criteria
and any other information that may be pertinent for the
review. AF/EPS will e-mail posts a copy of last year's
State Department submissions as a starting point.
4. In preparing submissions, posts should highlight
significant changes during the period under review,
including new problems or issues of concern, as well as
measures undertaken by host governments to meet
eligibility criteria or correct deficiencies identified in
last year's review. Of particular importance will be
updates on those countries that retained their eligibility
but where the 2008 highlighted areas of serious concern
and those countries deemed ineligible in previous reviews
(Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Mauritania, and Zimbabwe). Well
substantiated input is particularly important in cases
where the interagency may consider a change in eligibility
status.
5. Responses are requested no later than COB October 12,
2009, via front channel cable. Posts are requested to
keep their response cables unclassified. Please slug
responses for AF/EPS Gabrielle Mallory; USTR, Constance
Hamilton; Dept. of Commerce, Kevin Boyd; and Dept. of
Treasury, Anthony Ieronimo.
6. Posts should also send the text of their submissions
formatted to the standardized model by unclassified e-mail
to Gabrielle Mallory, AF/EPS (mallorygg@state.gov).
CLINTON
SIPDIS
LIBREVILLE FOR SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
PORT LOUIS FOR THE SEYCHELLES
ANTANANARIVO FOR THE COMOROS
PARIS AND LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON ENRG ETRD PHUM
SUBJECT: AGOA ELIGIBILITY REVIEW
1. This is an action request. Please see Paragraphs 3 -
6.
2. Background. USTR is requesting information for
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) country
eligibility in 2010. AGOA requires an annual review of
compliance with the Act's eligibility criteria for each
country currently eligible for AGOA, countries seeking
initial eligibility, and countries seeking restoration of
lost eligibility. Among other considerations, governments
must have established, or made continual progress in
establishing the following: (1) a market-based economy;
(2) rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due
process; (3) elimination of barriers to US trade and
investment; (4) economic policies to reduce poverty; (5) a
system to combat corruption; and (6) protection of worker
rights. Additionally, countries (7) should not engage in
activities that undermine U.S. national security or
foreign policy interests; and (8) should not engage in
gross violations of internationally recognized human
rights or provide support for acts of international
terrorism. Full eligibility requirements are described in
section 104 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act,
available on the internet at www.agoa.gov. End
Background.
3. Action request: In preparation for the upcoming
interagency review process on country eligibility, posts
are requested to update the information provided in 2008
on country performance in each of the above mentioned
areas, unless otherwise noted in these instructions. The
period under review is October 2008 through October 2009.
Posts should update their country background summary and
identify major strengths and major issues/problems in the
areas of: 1) Market-based Economy; 2) Political
Reform/Rule of Law/Anti-corruption; (3) Poverty Reduction;
(4) Workers' Rights/Child Labor/Human Rights; and (5)
International Terrorism/US National Security. No reports
are required for Somalia or Sudan, as these countries have
not requested AGOA benefits and therefore will not be
reviewed. Dakar please provide input for Guinea-Bissau,
STATE 00097769 002 OF 002
Libreville for Sao Tome and Principe, and Port Louis for
Seychelles. Posts should update the information in their
2008 submissions, keeping in mind the eligibility criteria
and any other information that may be pertinent for the
review. AF/EPS will e-mail posts a copy of last year's
State Department submissions as a starting point.
4. In preparing submissions, posts should highlight
significant changes during the period under review,
including new problems or issues of concern, as well as
measures undertaken by host governments to meet
eligibility criteria or correct deficiencies identified in
last year's review. Of particular importance will be
updates on those countries that retained their eligibility
but where the 2008 highlighted areas of serious concern
and those countries deemed ineligible in previous reviews
(Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial
Guinea, Eritrea, Mauritania, and Zimbabwe). Well
substantiated input is particularly important in cases
where the interagency may consider a change in eligibility
status.
5. Responses are requested no later than COB October 12,
2009, via front channel cable. Posts are requested to
keep their response cables unclassified. Please slug
responses for AF/EPS Gabrielle Mallory; USTR, Constance
Hamilton; Dept. of Commerce, Kevin Boyd; and Dept. of
Treasury, Anthony Ieronimo.
6. Posts should also send the text of their submissions
formatted to the standardized model by unclassified e-mail
to Gabrielle Mallory, AF/EPS (mallorygg@state.gov).
CLINTON