Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association submitted comments to the Office of the United States Trade Representative and joined a parallel letter from the Initiative for a Digital Africa (IDA) in response to USTR’s request for comments on modernization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Enacted in 2000, AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with preferential access to the U.S. market and remains the cornerstone of U.S.-Africa trade engagement. USTR is seeking stakeholder input ahead of recommendations to Congress later this year regarding the program’s future and potential reforms before its scheduled expiration in 2025.
CCIA supports a long-term reauthorization of AGOA alongside targeted modernization efforts that better reflect the growing importance of digital trade in the U.S.-Africa economic relationship. In its filing, CCIA urged USTR to update AGOA’s eligibility framework to address barriers to digital trade, including restrictions on cross-border data flows, data localization mandates, internet shutdowns, and discriminatory digital services measures. CCIA also emphasized the importance of aligning AGOA modernization with broader U.S. engagement on digital trade in Africa, including support for implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area’s digital initiatives and continued pursuit of bilateral trade arrangements with strong digital trade provisions.
The following can be attributed to CCIA Vice President for Digital Trade, Jonathan McHale:
“AGOA remains a foundational pillar of the U.S.-Africa trade relationship, but it must evolve to reflect the realities of today’s digital economy. As digital services and connectivity become increasingly central to economic growth across Africa, modernizing AGOA to incentivize removal of digital trade barriers can help support investment, strengthen regional integration, and ensure the framework remains fit for the modern digital age.”
