[House Document 114-74]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




114th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - House Document 114-74
_____________________________________________________________________

 
   SUSPENSION OF THE APPLICATION OF DUTY-FREE TREATMENT TO ALL AGOA-
                             ELIGIBLE GOODS

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

    NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO SUSPEND THE APPLICATION OF DUTY-FREE 
TREATMENT TO ALL AGOA-ELIGIBLE GOODS IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR FOR THE 
 REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, PURSUANT TO SECS. 506A(d)(4)(C) AND 506A(c) 
               OF THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


  November 5, 2015.--Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, November 5, 2015.
Hon. Paul D. Ryan,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In accordance with sections 506A(d)(4)(C) 
and 506A(c) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), I 
am providing 60-day advance notification of my intent to 
suspend the application of duty-free treatment to all AGOA-
eligible goods in the agricultural sector for the Republic of 
South Africa 60 days after the date of this notification.
    I am taking this step because South Africa continues to 
impose several longstanding barriers to U.S. trade, including 
barriers affecting certain U.S. agricultural exports, and thus 
I have determined that South Africa is not making continual 
progress toward the elimination of barriers to United States 
trade and investment as required by section 104 of AGOA. I have 
determined that such suspension of benefits would be more 
effective in promoting compliance by South Africa with the 
eligibility requirements listed in section 104 of AGOA than the 
termination of South Africa's designation as a beneficiary sub-
Saharan African country, as it would better promote continuing 
efforts between the United States and South Africa to resolve 
these outstanding issues. Although South Africa has to date 
failed to meet critical benchmarks required to address these 
issues, it continues to express an interest in resolving U.S. 
concerns.
    I will continue to assess whether South Africa is making 
continual progress toward the elimination of barriers to United 
States trade and investment in accordance with AGOA eligibility 
requirements, as well as whether this suspension of benefits is 
effective in promoting compliance with those requirements.
            Sincerely,
                                                      Barack Obama.

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