From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
US-AFRICA TRADE RELATIONS
From
CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)
Date
07 Aug 1998 13:11:48
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."
-end-
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