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.
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.
No comments :
Post a Comment