US says AGOA trade deal talks a 'marathon, not a sprint'

JOHANNESBURG - The United States says it is all in as the country’s trade leaders meet with African delegates on the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Washington DC is currently hosting the AGOA forum which is expected to wrap up this weekend. 

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AGOA, which was established in 2000, gives eligible African countries exemption from taxes on their exports to the US. 

Calls for an early renewal of the legislation have again taken centre stage.

US trade representative Katherine Tai says the Biden-Harris administration is still committed to doing business with Africa.

"This means partnering with the continent for a more inclusive, reliant and prosperous future for as many of us as humanly possible. And this has to be a partnership because no one nation, no one organisation can do this alone. This work is a marathon, not a sprint.”