The government was responding to US president Donald Trump’s notification of 60 days to suspend the application of duty-free treatment for Rwanda through AGOA saying that Rwanda imposed barriers to US trade in apparel products.
In a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of Senate, Trump said that the government of Rwanda continues to impose barriers to United States Trade which affects the exports of apparel products.
“I am providing advance notification of my intent to suspend the application of duty free treatment to all African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)-eligible goods in the apparel sector for the Republic of Rwanda 60 days after the date of this notification,” the letter reads.
Trump said that the Government of Rwanda continues to impose barriers to United States trade, specifically, barriers affecting certain United States exports of apparel products.
{{Rwanda’s position}}
Through the statement released yesterday, he government of Rwanda says that the notification by the United States on suspension of duty-free status for Rwandan apparel products under the AGOA follows a decision by East African countries to raise tariffs on second-hand clothing imports, in order to promote local manufacturing capacity in garment and other industries.
“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,” the statement reads.
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