Eswatini has secured continued eligibility for benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for the 2024 calendar year. This announcement was made by Chargé d’Affaires Caitlin Piper at the Eswatini Exporter Awards and Peer Learning Event.
“We are very pleased President Biden determined Eswatini will remain eligible for benefits under AGOA during the 2024 calendar year, which maintains the duty-free access to the United States its firms currently enjoy. To maintain eligibility, Eswatini – and all AGOA countries – must demonstrate continual progress in a variety of areas including the elimination of barriers to U.S. trade and investment; economic policies to reduce poverty; a system to combat corruption and bribery; rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process; and protection of internationally recognized worker rights and human rights”, she said
AGOA allows Eswatini businesses to export duty-free to the United States, boosting their competitiveness in the American market. Piper emphasized the importance of maintaining this eligibility, which requires Eswatini to demonstrate progress in areas like reducing trade barriers, promoting economic policies that fight poverty, and upholding human rights.
The event also saw Ngwenya Glass Eswatini/Swaziland take home the coveted “Best Exporter to the USA under AGOA Award.”
Leave a comment