H. Res. 699 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

August 1, 2014. 

Whereas the people of Africa share the hopes and aspirations 

of the people of the United States for peace and prosperity, and are both committed to strengthening economic relations; 

Whereas it is in the national interest of the United States to 

support the reduction of poverty in the continent of Africa; 

Whereas greater opportunities for mutually beneficial trade 

and investments promote economic growth, development, 

poverty reduction, democracy, the rule of law, and stability; 

Whereas the countries in Africa are important economic partners of the United States; 

Whereas Africa has today 6 of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world, over 1 billion people, 60 percent of the 

world’s uncultivated agricultural land, and expanding democracies; 

Whereas Africa is rich through the youth of its population, 

enjoying a demographic advantage over all other regions 

of the world, and is likely to replace the People’s Republic of China as the biggest contributor to the global workforce by 2050; 
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Whereas it is in the economic interest of the United States 

to engage and compete in emerging African markets, 

boost United States-Africa trade and investment, support 

greater capacity building for Africa, and invest in Africa’s youth and leadership development; 

Whereas in 2000 the Congress passed the African Growth 

and Opportunity Act (AGOA), with broad bipartisan support and with a view to expanding growth and opportunity in Africa; 

Whereas in the original AGOA legislation, Congress encouraged the establishment of more regular high-level dialogues, including regular meetings by the President with 

his African counterparts; 

Whereas exports from sub-Saharan Africa to the United 

States under AGOA have increased over three-fold from 

$7.6 billion in 2001 to $24.8 billion in 2013; 

Whereas United States exports to sub-Saharan Africa have 

increased from $6.9 billion to $23.9 billion and United 

States investment in sub-Saharan Africa has increased 

six-fold; 

Whereas per capita income in sub-Saharan Africa has more 

than tripled to $1,624 annually since Congress first 

passed AGOA, yet nearly half the population in sub-Saharan Africa lives in poverty; 

Whereas regional integration should be strengthened to boost 

economic growth in Africa, and elimination of barriers to 

trade and investment in Africa, such as high tariffs, 

forced localization requirements, restrictions on investment, and customs barriers, among others, will strengthen and improve regional and global integration; 
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Whereas it remains the goal of United States policy to support the diversification of sub-Saharan exports in terms 

of products and countries that utilize AGOA; 

Whereas the members of the World Trade Organization 

adopted several important Decisions and Declarations in 

Bali, Indonesia, in December 2013, including the Agreement on Trade Facilitation and specific results on agriculture and development, with the protocol of amendment 

for the Agreement on Trade Facilitation to be adopted on 

July 31, 2014; 

Whereas full implementation by our trading partners of the 

Agreement on Trade Facilitation will help to address 

supply-side constraints in Africa, promote regional integration on the continent, and facilitate integration into 

global supply chains; 

Whereas on June 30, 2013, in Cape Town, South Africa, 

President Barack Obama announced the Power Africa 

Initiative, to double the number of people with access to 

power in Sub-Saharan Africa; 

Whereas on May 8, 2014, the House of Representatives 

passed the Electrify Africa Act, to make it a national policy of the United States to support the electrification of 

sub-Saharan Africa, and to direct United States agencies 

to devote resources to facilitate and support the implementation of this initiative; and 

Whereas the first United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit and 

the 13th African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum 

will be held in Washington, DC, this summer: Now, 

therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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(1) is studying ways to improve the effectiveness 

and utilization of the range of United States trade policy 

tools with respect to Africa, including AGOA, and exploring how Africa can address barriers to become more 

attractive to trade and investment within Africa as well 

as globally; and 

(2) looks forward to continuing to work with African leaders to improve our economic and bilateral relationships. 

Attest: 

Clerk.