Wednesday, December 24, 2014 US revokes S. Sudan’s Agoa rights

 
US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) addresses the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) meeting on August 4, 2014 during the US-Africa Summit. The United States on Tuesday revoked South Sudan’s eligibility for a US preferential trade programme known as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). FILE PHOTO  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By KEVIN J. KELLEY
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In Summary

• Two of the requirements are that a country “does not engage in activities that undermine US national security or foreign policy interests” and “does not engage in gross violations of internationally recognised human rights.”

The United States on Tuesday revoked South Sudan’s eligibility for a US preferential trade programme known as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).

US President Barack Obama also removed Gambia from the programme and reinstated Guinea-Bissau. All the moves take effect on January 1.

A presidential proclamation announcing the actions did not specify the reasons for declaring South Sudan and the Gambia ineligible for Agoa benefits.
It instead referred to general standards for eligibility included in the law that established Agoa in 2000.

REQUIREMENTS

Two of the requirements are that a country “does not engage in activities that undermine US national security or foreign policy interests” and “does not engage in gross violations of internationally recognised human rights.”

The US has previously slapped sanctions on four South Sudan military leaders for their roles in a year-long civil war that has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths.

Washington is also drafting a resolution in the United Nations Security Council that would impose international sanctions on South Sudanese found to be impeding settlement of the conflict.

Mr Obama’s action on Gambia appears to be a response to alleged human rights abuses.