The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has made a compelling case for the renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) during high-level talks with senior U.S. officials in Washington, D.C., as Ghana intensifies efforts to preserve trade gains and navigate emerging protectionist trends.
The meeting, held on Monday, June 9, 2025, comes at a time when the United States’ “America First” trade policy and sweeping 10% tariffs on global shipments, including Ghana’s, pose growing challenges to African exporters.
Ofosu-Adjare led a Ghanaian delegation including Ambassador Jane Gasu Ahemtor, Acting Head of Mission; Dr. Mary Awusi, CEO of the Ghana Free Zones Authority; and Abdul Razak, Deputy CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre.
On the U.S. side, participants included Thomas Bruns, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East and Africa, and Mr. Giancarlo Cavallo of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa.
The meeting focused on pressing trade policy issues and ways to preserve the hard-won economic cooperation between the two nations. Key among the discussions was the future of AGOA, set to expire in September 2025.
The Minister reiterated Ghana’s strong support for the agreement’s renewal, describing it as a “win-win” framework that has attracted substantial U.S. investment into Ghana, particularly in the garment and textile sectors.
She also raised critical concerns over Ghana’s local content policy, importation of over-aged vehicles and excavators, and lingering debts owed to U.S. companies, assuring that Ghana is addressing these issues.
Additionally, both parties agreed on the need to resume structured talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), reinforcing mutual interest in revitalising economic ties.
As part of the ongoing engagement, Hon. Ofosu-Adjare is expected to meet with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in the coming weeks for further bilateral consultations.
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