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US-AFRICA TRADE RELATIONS
A:\USAFRTRA.TXT 

U.S-Africa Trade Relations

Contacts:  NCC News, 212-870-2227
Ad Hoc Committee for Passage 
  of the Africa Trade Bill (H.R.1432/S.778)
  Willis Logan/Paul D. Harris
  In Jackson: (601) 354-0515
(601) 353-6906 
In New York: (212) 870-2645
Website: www.ncccusa.org
Internet: news@ncccusa.org

74NCC8/3/98                                            
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"STRENGTHEN U.S.-AFRICA TRADE AND INVESTMENT 
RELATIONS,"
URGES ECUMENICAL COMMITTEE FOR PASSAGE OF AFRICA 
TRADE BILL

 JACKSON, Miss., Aug. 3 ---- In a push for 
Congress to pass The African Growth and Opportunity 
Act, a U.S. ecumenical committee and three 
ambassadors from Africa will hold a briefing here 
today to dispel myths about the legislation - 
especially regarding its impact on the U.S. textile 
industry - and to demonstrate the strength of 
American interest in Africa.
 The ambassadors from Sierra Leone, Liberia and 
Uganda will be participating in the briefing, to be 
held at Galloway United Methodist Church, 421 
Mississippi St., Jackson, Miss., from 1 to 4 p.m. 
today.  A news conference will follow immediately.
 Leaders of national organizations such as the 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People (NAACP), Southern Christian Leadership 
Conference (SCLC), African Methodist Episcopal Zion 
(AMEZ) Church, National Baptist Convention of 
America, African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), 
Church of God in Christ (COGIC) and National Council 
of Churches (NCC), have passed resolutions or spoken 
in support of the economic development of Africa, 
including strengthening U.S.-Africa trade and 
investments relations.
 The African Growth and Opportunity Act 
(H.R.1432/S.778) is seen as a positive shift from 
the U.S. Cold War policy to one that will emphasize 
expanding trade with Africa. It is an attempt to 
change U.S. development strategies to balance aid 
with debt relief and long term trade and 
investments.
 The shift is welcome by African nations as an 
important change for Africa at a time when Africans 
are seizing post Cold War opportunities to seriously 
tackle social, political and economic challenges 
that have plagued Africa for the last four 
centuries. Mel Foote of the Constituency for Africa 
in Washington, D.C., affirmed that "Africa has 
suffered enough under colonialism and U.S. Cold War 
policy. This shift to trade and investments is 
important for Africans to focus on real development 
issues."

-more-

74NCC8/3/98
U.S.-Africa Trade and Investment Relations - Page 2

 Support for The African Growth and Opportunity 
Act has come from most members of the Congressional 
Black Caucus, with leaders such as Rep. Charles 
Rangel (D-N.Y.) leading the charge for support of 
The African Growth and Opportunity Act in Congress. 
His influence was key to the passing of the bill in 
the House of Representatives in March 1998.
 Another key support is from African leaders who 
have been involved in promoting the bill in 
Washington, DC. In a recent letter to President Bill 
Clinton, Ambassador Roble Olhaye of the Republic of 
Djibouti and the Dean of the African Diplomatic 
Corps, urged support of the bill stating that the 
continent remains "in great need of long term 
investment to develop its abundant resources."  The 
signatures of 48 African Ambassadors were attached 
to the letter. A similar letter was sent to Senator 
William V. Roth, Jr., (R-DE), Chairman of the Senate 
Committee on Finance. 
 The bill (H.R.1432/S.778) would formalize U.S. 
corporate involvement in Africa, ensuring greater 
access to Africa's huge market in the 21st century as 
the U.S. competes with a united Europe and Asia for 
markets abroad. Africa's economy is already greatly 
influenced by former colonial nations like Britain 
and France. Asian nations such as Japan and China 
have also increased trade and investments in Africa. 
The current U.S.-Africa trade relations exceed that 
of Eastern Europe but trade and investments are 
mostly limited to South Africa and major African oil 
producing states: Nigeria, Gabon and Angola. 
 While there are some critics of the legislation 
it is generally felt that African Growth and 
Opportunity Act (H.R.1432/S.778) represents the best 
possibility of creating a new trade relationship 
between Africa and the United States in the near 
future. Rev. Paul D. Harris, Coordinator of the Ad 
Hoc Committee for the Passage of the African Growth 
and Opportunity Act (H.R.1432/S.778) stressed, 
"Clearly, this is a wake-up call for those who are 
truly concerned about Africa. We must be prepared to 
respond to Africa's new reality... Doing business 
with Africa is both a pan African mandate and a 
global imperative."  
 The ambassadors are meeting in Mississippi at a 
time when The African Growth and Opportunity Act is 
greatly challenged by election year politics. The 
U.S. Senate Finance Committee has just passed a 
watered-down version to the bill passed by the House 
of Representatives in March. Benefits to Africa such 
as manufacturing textiles for export to the United 
States have suffered greatly. Ambassador Roble 
Olhaye described the recent Finance Committee action 
as a "slap in our face" and an empty gesture to a 
continent in great need. 
 The House of Representatives version had some 
key benefits to sub Saharan African nations, such 
as: duty free access of African textiles to the U.S. 
market; allocation of funds for the development of 
Africa's infrastructure; debt relief to very poor 
African countries; and maintaining U.S. annual 
development assistance to Africa.
 "Talking Points" being used by the Ad Hoc 
Committee for the Passage of the African Trade Bill 
emphasize that this legislation would help Africa 
create jobs without hurting U.S. workers or 
manufacturers.  For a copy of the "Talking Points: 
Africa Growth and Opportunity Act," contact the NCC 
Africa Desk, 212-870-2645.
 For the most part, the attitude of most of the 
Senators still appears to rest on the perception 
that most Americans have very little interest in 
Africa. "But the point must be emphasized that 
Africa matters," stressed Willis Logan, Director of 
the National Council of Churches Africa Office. "A 
stable and developed Africa is in the long term 
interest of the United States. Now, more than ever, 
our Senators need to hear from the American people 
that Africa deserves a fair hearing and a fair trade 
bill."
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