African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA): Private Sector Forum

0:00 Ambassador George Moose, Acting President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace, welcoming remarks

5:27 Florie Liser, President and CEO, Corporate Council on Africa, Introductory remarks

11:01 Ambassador Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative

17:51 1st break

19:09 Anthony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, Keynote remarks

27:32 H.E. Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade and Mining, African Union

37:40 2nd Break

41:24 1st panel discussion

1:14:23 3rd Break

1:31:51 2nd panel discussion

2:08:34 3rd panel discussion

2:44:37 4th panel discussion

3:17:17 4th break

3:34:50 introduction of Deputy Secretary Don Graves

3:17:17 Don Graves, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce, Keynote remarks

3:50:16 5th panel discussion

4:37:05 5th break

4:38:52 final panel discussion

Setting the Stage for the Next Phase in the U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment Partnership

Enhancing U.S.-Africa trade and investment partnerships is important to U.S. and African economic development goals. And with the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) set to expire in 2025, it’s crucial to consider the role AGOA has played — and could play going forward, if reauthorized — in supporting those goals. But changing trade and investment landscapes could also signal the need to think “beyond AGOA” to build stronger partnerships in areas like critical minerals, trade capacity, and internet and communications technology — sectors that can benefit from stronger policy engagement as well as financial tools.

Even now, African countries are actively reshaping their approach to trade in response to major developments such as the advancement of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), the introduction of African Union programs to support manufacturing sectors, and global shifts to improve supply chain security. Amid this changing environment, the 2024 AGOA Private Sector Forum offers an opportunity to explore what the next phase in the U.S.-Africa trade and investment partnership might look like.

On July 24, USIP, the Corporate Council on Africa, and the U.S. Department of Commerce hosted the 2024 AGOA Private Sector Forum. The Forum focused on opportunities for enhancing U.S.-Africa trade and investment partnerships during a pivotal time in U.S.-Africa trade policy development, including as Congress considers AGOA reauthorization. The 2024 AGOA Private Sector Forum also provided critical input for official ministerial meetings taking place as part of the broader AGOA proceedings in Washington, D.C., scheduled for July 25-26.

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