Free Republic

In accordance with section 506A(a)(3)(B) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)(B)), I am providing advance notification of my intent to terminate the designation of the Central African Republic, the Gabonese Republic (Gabon), Niger, and the Republic of Uganda (Uganda) as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). I am taking this step because I have determined that the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda do not meet the eligibility requirements of section 104 of the AGOA. Specifically, the Government of the Central African Republic has engaged in gross violations...

NOTE: The following text is a quote: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-proclamation-take-certain-actions-under-african-growth-and-opportunity Home • Briefing Room • Presidential Actions • Proclamations The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release December 23, 2009 Presidential Proclamation - To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act A PROCLAMATION 1. Section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the "1974 Act") (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1)), as added by section 111(a) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (title I of Public Law 106-200) (AGOA), authorizes the President to designate a country listed in section 107 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3706)...

NAIROBI, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is among the high profile personalities expected to attend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum which formally kicks off in Nairobi on Tuesday. The forum is an annual event mandated by the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which was signed into law by former President Bill Clinton in May 2000 to expand U.S. trade and investment with Sub-Saharan Africa. The forum allows participating officials to review the implementation of AGOA, as well as chart new ways forward in building closer ties between the United States and...

The documents seized in the FBI raid on the offices of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) remain unread by Justice Department investigators, pending a federal Appeals Court ruling scheduled for August 27. [snip] But we already know a bit about the charges and some of the alleged partners of Congressman Jefferson. Two people have pleaded guilty to bribing him.

The documents seized in the FBI raid on the offices of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) remain unread by Justice Department investigators, pending a federal Appeals Court ruling scheduled for August 27. Jefferson is anxious to overturn the ruling of federal Judge Hogan of the Washington, DC federal District Court, who allowed the raid. One can only surmise that the seized documents contain material even more embarrassing than the discovery of $90,000 in cash in Jefferson’s freezer. But we already know a bit about the charges and some of the alleged partners of Congressman Jefferson. Two people have pleaded guilty to...

President Bush signed into law yesterday an African trade agreement long championed by Seattle's lawmaker, U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott. But McDermott was not invited to the White House signing ceremony, a disappointing cap to years of effort. "It's too bad that kind of thing has to happen," said McDermott's spokesman, Mike DeCesare, who added that his boss was "disappointed." The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) maintains lower tariffs on garments manufactured in 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. McDermott is known in some diplomatic circle as the "father of AGOA" for his long support of the measure. But McDermott also...