An official website of the United States government. 
News Release 17-166
Inv. No(s). 332-564
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has launched an investigation to examine U.S. trade in goods and services and investment in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
The investigation, U.S. Trade and Investment with Sub-Saharan Africa: Recent Developments, was requested by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received on October 23, 2017.
As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will:
- provide an overview of U.S. exports to and imports from SSA of goods and services, identifying the sectors and countries in which U.S. exports and imports have increased the most, in both value and percentage terms, and the principal factors behind such growth;
- provide profiles of seven SSA economies -- Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, and South Africa -- describing these countries’ macroeconomic environment, and trade flows and foreign direct investment (FDI) with the United States;
- provide a summary of recent developments in regional integration efforts in SSA, including progress on negotiations of the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA);
- describe U.S. imports of goods from SSA countries under the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA), as well as summarize strategies by AGOA countries to increase trade with the United States;
- perform a qualitative and, to the extent possible, quantitative assessment of the non-crude petroleum sectors and SSA markets that present the greatest potential for growth in U.S. exports and imports of goods and services, as well as FDI flows; and
- discuss exports of goods and services from U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to SSA and the challenges faced by U.S. SMEs exporting to the region.
The USITC expects to deliver the report to USTR by April 30, 2018.
The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation on January 23, 2018. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on January 9, 2018, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20436. For further information, call 202-205-2000.
The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date, but no later than 5:15 p.m. on February 6, 2018. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.
Further information on the scope of this investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the USITC's notice of investigation, dated November 17, 2017, which can be obtained from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address or at 202-205-2000.
USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of USTR, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
News Release 13-115
Inv. No(s). 332-542, 332-544, 332-545, 332-546
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has launched four investigations to examine the impact that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program has had on the economies of sub-Saharan Africa and identify factors that have impacted trade, investment, and the economic climate of the region.
The investigations were requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received on October 17, 2013. In the request letter, the USTR noted that the Administration is working with its partners in the region and the Congress to renew and potentially modify AGOA, which entered into force on October 1, 2000.
As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will conduct four investigations and provide four reports to the USTR. One report will be a public report, and three reports will be confidential.
- The first investigation, AGOA: Trade and Investment Performance Overview, will assess the impact AGOA has had on the economies of sub-Saharan Africa and identify factors that have impacted the trade, investment, and the economic climate of the region. In this report, the USITC will address AGOA trade performance, utilization, and competitiveness factors; AGOA's effect on the business and investment climate in sub-Saharan Africa; and the relationship between current or potential sub-Saharan African reciprocal trade agreements and the objectives of AGOA. This report will be submitted to USTR on April 17, 2014, and will be released to the public soon thereafter.
- The second investigation, AGOA: Economic Effects of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports, will assess the economic effects of providing duty-free treatment for AGOA imports on U.S. industries and consumers. This report will be confidential and will be delivered to USTR on April 17, 2014.
- The third investigation, U.S. AGOA Rules of Origin: Possible Changes to Promote Regional Integration and Increase Exports to the United States, will identify possible changes to the rules of origin under AGOA with the potential to increase exports from AGOA-eligible countries. This report will be confidential and will be delivered to USTR on April 30, 2014.
- The fourth investigation, EU-South Africa FTA: Impact on U.S. Exports to South Africa, will assess the impact of the EU-South Africa free trade agreement on U.S. exports to South Africa. This report will be confidential and will be delivered to USTR on April 17, 2014.
The USITC will hold one public hearing in connection with the four investigations on January 14, 2014. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on December 13, 2013, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. For further information, call 202-205-2000.
The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record for all four investigations. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on January 21, 2014. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.
Further information on the scope of the investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the USITC's notice of investigations, dated November 13, 2013, which can be obtained from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address or at 202-205-2000.
USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representatives, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commissions' objective findings and independent analyses on the subject investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigations reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
News Release 12-035
Inv. No(s). 332-530
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking input for a newly initiated investigation on trade facilitation in the East African Community (EAC).
The investigation, Trade Facilitation in the East African Community: Recent Developments and Potential Benefits, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received on March 28, 2012.
In requesting the study, the USTR noted that the United States and the EAC recently began preliminary discussions on a potential new trade and investment partnership that aims to support regional integration and greater U.S.-EAC trade and investment. He said he believes that one of the initial steps under this initiative that could have the most immediate benefit to U.S.-EAC, regional, and multilateral trade would be engagement with the EAC on customs clearance and other practices at the border.
As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will provide a summary of recent developments relating to trade facilitation in the EAC. The USITC report will include a description of the potential benefits of trade facilitation to the EAC countries, based on empirical studies and the experiences of other developing countries. For purposes of the study, trade facilitation means the simplification of customs procedures affecting the movement of goods across borders, as well as improvements to transport infrastructure.
The USITC expects to submit its report to the USTR by July 2, 2012.
Although the information in the report will be based principally on a review of the available literature, the USITC is seeking input for its new investigation from all interested parties. The USITC will not hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation; however, the USITC welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436 and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on May 10, 2012.
Further information on the scope of this investigation and the procedures for written submissions is available in the USITC's notice of investigation, dated April 9, 2012, which can be downloaded from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Secretary at the above address.