The southern African country of Eswatini has continued eligibility for benefits under the US African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for 39 companies currently trading under AGOA, including some of Eswatini’s largest brands. US Trade Representative spokesman Sam Mitchell confirmed Eswatini’s eligibility in late December. Eswatini’s exclusion from the trade agreement in 2015 followed the country’s failure to meet standards for democratization and respect for human rights and highlighted how the country’s political situation negatively impacted the country’s economy.
In a written statement issued on 21 December, US Trade Representative spokesperson Sam Mitchell said that the decision to continue Eswatini’s participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act was based on the annual AGOA eligibility review, which concluded that the list of eligible and ineligible countries Will remain. Unchanged for 2025.
Eswatini, an AGOA member for 23 years, exported goods worth approximately $23.5 million in 2022. It is one of more than 30 African countries, including Namibia, South Africa and Mozambique, eligible for a US-led trade initiative aimed at boosting trade. and economic ties between the United States and Africa through duty-free access.
Swazi businesswoman Sonia Pewa stressed the importance of international trade agreements to grow business in Eswatini, citing the benefits of removing import tariffs and increasing market access. He said being excluded from such agreements could have a detrimental economic impact on businesses and citizens.
“We cannot afford to be left out of such agreements, as the country faces the highest unemployment rate to date, affecting more than 50 percent of our population, who is predominantly young. “We continue to push our government to implement policies effectively. With policies in place, monitoring of trade agreements should be easier,” she said.
Eswatini was temporarily suspended from AGOA in 2015 due to failure to meet standards in democratization and human rights. Thousands of jobs were lost as a result of the suspension. However, the country was reinstated in 2017, reinvigorating its economic prospects and restoring its eligibility for duty-free access to the US market.
Wandile Dludlu, vice president of the opposition People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), expressed disappointment over the renewal of AGOA benefits to Eswatini, saying the country’s government is disregarding the rule of law, arresting political activists and subjecting them to international investigations. Is hindering. Murder of human rights activist Thulani Maseko.
“We have MPs who are in jail and have been convicted on the basis of the Suppression of Terrorism Act, the US version of which was not only copied but is very much supported by the same US government. And our context In the U.S., it’s being used as a knife against pro-democracy forces and human rights activists and we think that’s very inconsiderate on the part of the U.S. government, we have a very hostile political environment. [here in Eswatini]”In which the same government that is opening the market has refused to allow the international community to conduct an independent investigation into the killing,” Dudlu said.
Sibusiso Nlabatsi, a political analyst, criticized the renewal of AGOA benefits for Eswatini, also known as Swaziland. They argue that the US government’s decision ignores Eswatini’s unfulfilled commitments, highlighting the enduring political instability in Eswatini and the absence of the promised national dialogue to resolve the issues.
“The Americans are not as strict as they should be when they apply these AGOA benchmarks on the Kingdom of Swaziland. But the political situation in Swaziland, despite the fact that they renew these AGOA benefits, certainly makes some business people The political environment in Swaziland will never be the same after 2021 and it is also disingenuous on the part of the Americans as the King has made commitments during the unrest. There was a commitment to negotiate and a budget has also been given for this, but the negotiations have not taken place yet,” Nlabatsi said.
Eswatini government spokesperson Alpheus Nxumalo has reaffirmed Eswatini’s commitment to comply with all AGOA requirements and maintain strong diplomatic relations with the U.S. government.