raising the US Government for having unilaterally initiated the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Rwandan ministry of trade and industry recently said it is Washington’s discretion to withdraw AGOA benefits. The US decision was a result of a move by East African countries to raise tariffs on used clothes to promote the local textile industry.
“AGOA is a commendable unilateral gesture to African countries, including Rwanda, meant to promote trade and development through exports. The withdrawal of AGOA benefits is at the discretion of the United States,” Rwandan news organisations quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.
In 2006, the heads of state of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda agreed to take measures to gradually phase out import of second-hand clothing.
