African Clothing has partnered with Walmart, Afterpay and Liberty Coca-Cola to boost US-Africa trade and investments under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
It provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the US for over 1,800 products, in addition to more than 5,100 products that are eligible under the GSP programme.
Products include apparel, textile, agricultural products, dairy products, beverages, essential oils, skins and leather products, energy-related products, and transportation equipment among others. AGOA is expected to end on September 30, 2025.
“According to the US Census Bureau, US total goods imports under AGOA (including GSP) totalled $6.7 billion in 2021 compared to $8.4 billion in 2019.
This decline was mainly the result of the lower value of oil imports. However, non-oil imports under AGOA, a major source of new investment and jobs, increased during this period to $4.8 billion in 2021 from $3.8 billion in 2019…” said Ambassador Katherine Tai, United States Representative in the biennial report on the implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act in June 2022.
With the world’s fastest-growing population, the largest free trade area in the world and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA), Africa is a great geopolitical opportunity for the United States.
To promote opportunities available with free trade agreements for both continents and with the support of public-private organisations, Bizness Group LLC is coordinating a road show before the upcoming US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, to connect buyers and retailers to potential African suppliers and manufacturers in the fashion industry, Bizness Group said in a media release.
The event is a series of 3-day activities (panel, conference, workshops, expo, African food sampling, B2B, B2C) across different US Cities (New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas) to connect buyers and retailers interested to source in Africa to the African fashion and cosmetics manufacturers.
The objective is to strengthen US-Africa trade and investments and promote African exports products eligible under AGOA. The road show is looking to attract US buyers and retailers that are interested in sourcing from Africa and/or expanding existing sourcing with AGOA trade preference in the fashion industry (apparel, textiles, footwear, home decor and cosmetics).
“We would like to thank the US department of commerce, the Minority Business Development Agency, the International Trade Administration, and the Office of Textiles Administration for the support and guidance we received to prepare this initiative.
We are grateful for the partnership with Walmart that gives us access to more than 5000 stores in North America. Participants will be able to purchase products or place orders using Afterpay, the leading Buy now Pay later digital payment platform offering to online and in store shoppers the possibility to pay in 4 installments over 6 weeks without interest.
We are also extending our appreciation to Liberty Coca Cola, the bottler that serves the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut as we are going to do some brands activations especially with the Coca Cola dream flavoured and enjoy some African food combo with Coke products,” said Severin Coulibaly, the organiser.
