wfn.org | US-AFRICA TRADE AND INVESTMENT RELATIONS

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches  of Christ in the U.S.A.
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
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-
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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. 
more-

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

 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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