Officials to negotiate with US to extend duty-free status
18 Jul '05
2 min read
Mauritius will send a delegation of official to Senegal from Monday to Wednesday to talk with United States for an extension for duty-free import status under the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), a trade understanding between the United States and African countries.
For the countries that includes in the agreement this concession will expire in the year 2007, however, for Mauritius, it would be expired on September 30.
After elimination of the concession the goods would have to be imported from the US, where it is too expensive, or from other AGOA countries that don't make it in huge quantity.
The Chairman of the Mauritius-US Business Association (MUSBA), who is also be presented at the negotiations in Senegal opined that the duty free status is very essential for the industry, as it provides a space that is very much required for the industry.
Sub-Saharan African states have witnessed that textile sectors is on the elevating path due to AGOA that provides duty & quota-free access to the underprivileged countries in the US market.
However, the benefit is threatened by the emergence of China and other textile major from Asia surging textile imports to the US and European countries following the abolition of global quota system in the beginning of this year.
marketing@alchempro.com
