H. R. 4103

One Hundred Eighth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,

the twentieth day of January, two thousand and four

An Act

To extend and modify the trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity

Act.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004’’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:

(1) The African Growth and Opportunity Act (in this section

and section 3 referred to as ‘‘the Act’’) has helped to spur

economic growth and bolster economic reforms in the countries

of sub-Saharan Africa and has fostered stronger economic ties

between the countries of sub-Saharan Africa and the United

States; as a result, exports from the United States to subSaharan Africa reached record levels after the enactment of

the Act, while exports from sub-Saharan Africa to the United

States have increased considerably.

(2) The Act’s eligibility requirements have reinforced democratic values and the rule of law, and have strengthened adherence to internationally recognized worker rights in eligible subSaharan African countries.

(3) The Act has helped to bring about substantial increases

in foreign investment in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in the

textile and apparel sectors, where tens of thousands of new

jobs have been created.

(4) As a result of the Agreement on Textiles and Apparel

of the World Trade Organization, under which quotas maintained by WTO member countries on textile and apparel products end on January 1, 2005, sub-Saharan Africa’s textile and

apparel industry will be severely challenged by countries whose

industries are more developed and have greater capacity, economies of scale, and better infrastructure.

(5) The underdeveloped physical and financial infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa continues to discourage investment

in the region.

(6) Regional integration establishes a foundation on which

sub-Saharan African countries can coordinate and pursue policies grounded in African interests and history to achieve

sustainable development.

(7) Expanded trade because of the Act has improved fundamental economic conditions within sub-Saharan Africa. The

Act has helped to create jobs in the poorest region of the
H. R. 4103—2

world, and most sub-Saharan African countries have sought

to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Act.

(8) Agricultural biotechnology holds promise for helping

solve global food security and human health crises in Africa

and, according to recent studies, has made contributions to

the protection of the environment by reducing the application

of pesticides, reducing soil erosion, and creating an environment

more hospitable to wildlife.

(9) (A) One of the greatest challenges facing African countries continues to be the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has infected

as many as one out of every four people in some countries,

creating tremendous social, political, and economic costs. African countries need continued United States financial and technical assistance to combat this epidemic.

(B) More awareness and involvement by governments are

necessary. Countries like Uganda, recognizing the threat of

HIV/AIDS, have boldly attacked it through a combination of

education, public awareness, enhanced medical infrastructure

and resources, and greater access to medical treatment. An

effective HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment strategy involves

all of these steps.

(10) African countries continue to need trade capacity

assistance to establish viable economic capacity, a wellgrounded rule of law, and efficient government practices.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

The Congress supports—

(1) a continued commitment to increase trade between the

United States and sub-Saharan Africa and increase investment

in sub-Saharan Africa to the benefit of workers, businesses,

and farmers in the United States and in sub-Saharan Africa,

including by developing innovative approaches to encourage

development and investment in sub-Saharan Africa;

(2) a reduction of tariff and nontariff barriers and other

obstacles to trade between the countries of sub-Saharan Africa

and the United States, with particular emphasis on reducing

barriers to trade in emerging sectors of the economy that have

the greatest potential for development;

(3) development of sub-Saharan Africa’s physical and financial infrastructure;

(4) international efforts to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, other infectious diseases, and serious public health

problems;

(5) many of the aims of the New Partnership for African

Development (NEPAD), which include—

(A) reducing poverty and increasing economic growth;

(B) promoting peace, democracy, security, and human

rights;

(C) promoting African integration by deepening linkages between African countries and by accelerating Africa’s

economic and political integration into the rest of the world;

(D) attracting investment, debt relief, and development

assistance;

(E) promoting trade and economic diversification;

(F) broadening global market access for United States

and African exports;
H. R. 4103—3

(G) improving transparency, good governance, and

political accountability;

(H) expanding access to social services, education, and

health services with a high priority given to addressing

HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, other infectious diseases,

and other public health problems;

(I) promoting the role of women in social and economic

development by reinforcing education and training and by

assuring their participation in political and economic

arenas; and

(J) building the capacity of governments in sub-Saharan Africa to set and enforce a legal framework, as well

as to enforce the rule of law;

(6) negotiation of reciprocal trade agreements between the

United States and sub-Saharan African countries, with the

overall goal of expanding trade across all of sub-Saharan Africa;

(7) the President seeking to negotiate, with interested

eligible sub-Saharan African countries, bilateral trade agreements that provide investment opportunities, in accordance

with section 2102(b)(3) of the Trade Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C.

3802(b)(3));

(8) efforts by the President to negotiate with the member

countries of the Southern African Customs Union in order

to provide the opportunity to deepen and make permanent

the benefits of the Act while giving the United States access

to the markets of these African countries for United States

goods and services, by reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers,

strengthening intellectual property protection, improving transparency, establishing general dispute settlement mechanisms,

and investor-state and state-to-state dispute settlement mechanisms in investment;

(9) a comprehensive and ambitious trade agreement with

the Southern African Customs Union, covering all products

and sectors, in order to mature the economic relationship

between sub-Saharan African countries and the United States

and because such an agreement would deepen United States

economic and political ties to the region, lend momentum to

United States development efforts, encourage greater United

States investment, and promote regional integration and economic growth;

(10) regional integration among sub-Saharan African countries and business partnerships between United States and

African firms; and

(11) economic diversification in sub-Saharan African countries and expansion of trade beyond textiles and apparel.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON RECIPROCITY AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION.

It is the sense of the Congress that—

(1) the preferential market access opportunities for eligible

sub-Saharan African countries will be complemented and

enhanced if those countries are implementing actively and fully,

consistent with any remaining applicable phase-in periods, their

obligations under the World Trade Organization, including

obligations under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of

Intellectual Property, the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, and the Agreement on Trade-
H. R. 4103—4

Related Investment Measures, as well as the other agreements

described in section 101(d) of the Uruguay Round Agreements

Act (19 U.S.C. 3511(d));

(2) eligible sub-Saharan African countries should participate in and support mutual trade liberalization in ongoing

negotiations under the auspices of the World Trade Organization, including by making reciprocal commitments with respect

to improving market access for industrial and agricultural

goods, and for services, recognizing that such commitments

may need to reflect special and differential treatment for developing countries;

(3) some of the most pernicious trade barriers against

exports by developing countries are the trade barriers maintained by other developing countries; therefore, eligible subSaharan African countries will benefit from the reduction of

trade barriers in other developing countries, especially in developing countries that represent some of the greatest potential

markets for African goods and services; and

(4) all countries should make sanitary and phytosanitary

decisions on the basis of sound science.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INTERPRETATION OF TEXTILE AND

APPAREL PROVISIONS OF AGOA.

It is the sense of the Congress that the executive branch,

particularly the Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements (CITA), the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection of

the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of

Commerce, should interpret, implement, and enforce the provisions

of section 112 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, relating

to preferential treatment of textile and apparel articles, broadly

in order to expand trade by maximizing opportunities for imports

of such articles from eligible sub-Saharan African countries.

SEC. 6. DEFINITION.

In this Act, the term ‘‘eligible sub-Saharan African country’’

means an eligible sub-Saharan African country under the African

Growth and Opportunity Act.

SEC. 7. EXTENSION OF AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT.

(a) GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES.—

(1) EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.—Section 506B of the Trade

Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466b) is amended by striking ‘‘2008’’

and inserting ‘‘2015’’.

(2) INPUTS FROM FORMER BENEFICIARY COUNTRIES.—Section

506A of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466a) is amended—

(A) in subsection (b)(2)(B), by inserting ‘‘or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries’’ after ‘‘countries’’;

and

(B) in subsection (c)—

(i) by striking ‘‘title, the terms’’ and inserting

‘‘title—

‘‘(1) the terms’’; and

(ii) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(2) the term ‘former beneficiary sub-Saharan African

country’ means a country that, after being designated as a

beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under the African

Growth and Opportunity Act, ceased to be designated as such
H. R. 4103—5

a country by reason of its entering into a free trade agreement

with the United States.’’.

(b) APPAREL ARTICLES.—(1) Section 112(b)(1) of the African

Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(1)) is amended

by striking ‘‘(including’’ and inserting ‘‘or both (including’’.

(2) Section 112(b)(3) of the African Growth and Opportunity

Act (19 U.S.C. 3721 (b)(3)) is amended—

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)—

(i) by striking ‘‘either in the United States or one

or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries’’ each

place it appears and inserting ‘‘in the United States or

one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries or

former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, or both’’;

and

(ii) by striking ‘‘subject to the following:’’ and inserting

‘‘whether or not the apparel articles are also made from

any of the fabrics, fabric components formed, or components

knit-to-shape described in paragraph (1) or (2) (unless the

apparel articles are made exclusively from any of the fabrics, fabric components formed, or components knit-toshape described in paragraph (1) or (2)), subject to the

following:’’; and

(B) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting

the following:

‘‘(A) LIMITATIONS ON BENEFITS.—

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Preferential treatment under

this paragraph shall be extended in the 1-year period

beginning October 1, 2003, and in each of the 11 succeeding 1-year periods, to imports of apparel articles

in an amount not to exceed the applicable percentage

of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all

apparel articles imported into the United States in

the preceding 12-month period for which data are available.

‘‘(ii) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE.—For purposes of

this subparagraph, the term ‘applicable percentage’

means—

‘‘(I) 4.747 percent for the 1-year period beginning October 1, 2003, increased in each of the

5 succeeding 1-year periods by equal increments,

so that for the 1-year period beginning October

1, 2007, the applicable percentage does not exceed

7 percent; and

‘‘(II) for each succeeding 1-year period until

September 30, 2015, not to exceed 7 percent.

‘‘(B) SPECIAL RULE FOR LESSER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.—

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Preferential treatment under

this paragraph shall be extended though September

30, 2007, for apparel articles wholly assembled, or

knit-to-shape and wholly assembled, or both, in one

or more lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, regardless of the country of origin of

the fabric or the yarn used to make such articles,

in an amount not to exceed the applicable percentage

of the aggregate square meter equivalents of all

apparel articles imported into the United States in
H. R. 4103—6

the preceding 12-month period for which data are available.

‘‘(ii) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE.—For purposes of the

subparagraph, the term ‘applicable percentage’

means—

‘‘(I) 2.3571 percent for the 1-year period beginning October 1, 2003;

‘‘(II) 2.6428 percent for the 1-year period beginning October 1, 2004;

‘‘(III) 2.9285 percent for the 1-year period

beginning October 1, 2005; and

‘‘(IV) 1.6071 percent for the 1-year period

beginning October 1, 2006.

‘‘(iii) LESSER DEVELOPED BENEFICIARY SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRY.—For purposes of this subparagraph, the term ‘lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country’ means—

‘‘(I) a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country

that had a per capita gross national product of

less than $1,500 in 1998, as measured by the

International Bank for Reconstruction and

Development;

‘‘(II) Botswana; and

‘‘(III) Namibia.’’.

(3) Section 112(b)(5)(A) of the African Growth and Opportunity

Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(5)(A)) is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Apparel articles that are both cut

(or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one

or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, to the

extent that apparel articles of such fabrics or yarns would

be eligible for preferential treatment, without regard to

the source of the fabrics or yarns, under Annex 401 to

the NAFTA.’’.

(c) HANDLOOMED, HANDMADE, FOLKLORE ARTICLES AND ETHNIC

PRINTED FABRICS.—Section 112(b)(6) of the African Growth and

Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(6)) is amended to read as follows:

‘‘(6) HANDLOOMED, HANDMADE, FOLKLORE ARTICLES AND

ETHNIC PRINTED FABRICS.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A handloomed, handmade, folklore

article or an ethnic printed fabric of a beneficiary subSaharan African country or countries that is certified as

such by the competent authority of such beneficiary country

or countries. For purposes of this section, the President,

after consultation with the beneficiary sub-Saharan African

country or countries concerned, shall determine which, if

any, particular textile and apparel goods of the country

(or countries) shall be treated as being handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles or an ethic printed fabric.

‘‘(B) REQUIREMENTS FOR ETHNIC PRINTED FABRIC.—

Ethnic printed fabrics qualified under this paragraph are—

‘‘(i) fabrics containing a selvedge on both edges,

having a width of less than 50 inches, classifiable

under subheading 5208.52.30 or 5208.52.40 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States; ‘‘(ii) of the type that contains designs, symbols,

and other characteristics of African prints—
H. R. 4103—7

‘‘(I) normally produced for and sold on the

indigenous African market; and

‘‘(II) normally sold in Africa by the piece as

opposed to being tailored into garments before

being sold in indigenous African markets;

‘‘(iii) printed, including waxed, in one or more

eligible beneficiary sub-Saharan countries; and

‘‘(iv) fabrics formed in the United States, from

yarns formed in the United States, or from fabric

formed in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African

country from yarn originating in either the United

States or one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African

countries.’’.

(d) REGIONAL AND U.S. SOURCES.—Section 112(b)(7) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(b)(7)) is amended

by inserting ‘‘or former beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries’’

after ‘‘and one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries’’

each place it appears.

(e) SPECIAL RULES.—

(1) CERTAIN COMPONENTS.—Section 112(d) of the African

Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(d)) is amended

by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(3) CERTAIN COMPONENTS.—An article otherwise eligible

for preferential treatment under this section will not be ineligible for such treatment because the article contains—

‘‘(A) any collars or cuffs (cut or knit-to-shape),

‘‘(B) drawstrings,

‘‘(C) shoulder pads or other padding,

‘‘(D) waistbands,

‘‘(E) belt attached to the article,

‘‘(F) straps containing elastic, or

‘‘(G) elbow patches,

that do not meet the requirements set forth in subsection

(b), regardless of the country of origin of the item referred

to in the applicable subparagraph of this paragraph.’’.

(2) DE MINIMIS RULE.—Section 112(d)(2) of the African

Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(d)(2)) is

amended—

(A) by inserting ‘‘or former beneficiary sub-Saharan

African countries’’ after ‘‘countries’’; and

(B) by striking ‘‘7 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘10 percent’’.

(f) DEFINITIONS.—Section 112(e) of the African Growth and

Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(e)) is amended by adding at the

end the following:

‘‘(4) FORMER SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRY.—The term

‘former sub-Saharan African country’ means a country that,

after being designated as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African

country under this Act, ceased to be designated as such a

beneficiary sub-Saharan country by reason of its entering into

a free trade agreement with the United States.’’.

SEC. 8. ENTRIES OF CERTAIN APPAREL ARTICLES PURSUANT TO THE

AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 514 of the Tariff

Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1514) or any other provision of law, the

Secretary of the Treasury shall liquidate or reliquidate as free

of duty and free of any quantitative restrictions, limitations, or
H. R. 4103—8

consultation levels entries of articles described in subsection (d)

made on or after October 1, 2000, and before the date of the

enactment of this Act.

(b) REQUESTS.—Liquidation or reliquidation may be made under

subsection (a) with respect to an entry described in subsection

(d) only if a request therefor is filed with the Secretary of the

Treasury within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this

Act and the request contains sufficient information to enable the

Secretary to locate the entry or reconstruct the entry if it cannot

be located.

(c) PAYMENT OF AMOUNTS OWED.—Any amounts owed by the

United States pursuant to the liquidation or reliquidation of any

entry under subsection (a) shall be paid not later than 180 days

after the date of such liquidation or reliquidation.

(d) ENTRIES.—The entries referred to in subsection (a) are

entries of apparel articles that meet the requirements of section

112(b) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, as amended

by section 3108 of the Trade Act of 2002 and this Act.

SEC. 9. DEVELOPMENT STUDY AND CAPACITY BUILDING.

(a) REPORTS.—The President shall, by not later than 1 year

after the date of the enactment of this Act, conduct a study on

each eligible sub-Saharan African country, that— (1) identifies sectors of the economy of that country with

the greatest potential for growth, including through export

sales;

(2) identifies barriers, both domestically and internationally, that are impeding growth in such sectors; and

(3) makes recommendations on how the United States

Government and the private sector can provide technical assistance to that country to assist in dismantling such barriers

and in promoting investment in such sectors.

(b) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION.—The President shall

disseminate information in each study conducted under subsection

(a) to the appropriate United States agencies for the purpose of

implementing recommendations on the provision of technical assistance and in identifying opportunities for United States investors,

businesses, and farmers.

SEC. 10. ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT

INCREASING TRADE CAPACITY AND ECOTOURISM.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:

(1) Ecotourism, which consists of— (A) responsible and sustainable travel and visitation

to relatively undisturbed natural areas in order to enjoy

and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features, both past and present) and animals, including species

that are rare or endangered,

(B) promotion of conservation and provision for beneficial involvement of local populations, and

(C) visitation designed to have low negative impact

upon the environment,

is expected to expand 30 percent globally over the next decade.

(2) Ecotourism will increase trade capacity by sustaining

otherwise unsustainable infrastructure, such as road, port,

water, energy, and telecommunication development.

(3) According to the United States Department of State

and the United Nations Environment Programme, sustainable
H. R. 4103—9

tourism, such as ecotourism, can be an important part of the

economic development of a region, especially a region with

natural and cultural protected areas.

(4) Sub-Saharan Africa enjoys an international comparative

advantage in ecotourism because it features extensive protected

areas that host a variety of ecosystems and traditional cultures

that are major attractions for nature-oriented tourism.

(5) National parks and reserves in sub-Saharan Africa

should be considered a basis for regional development, involving

communities living within and adjacent to them and, given

their strong international recognition, provide an advantage

in ecotourism marketing and promotion.

(6) Desert areas in sub-Saharan Africa represent complex

ecotourism attractions, showcasing natural, geological, and

archaeological features, and nomad and other cultures and

traditions.

(7) Many natural zones in sub-Saharan Africa cross the

political borders of several countries; therefore, transboundary

cooperation is fundamental for all types of ecotourism development.

(8) The commercial viability of ecotourism is enhanced

when small and medium enterprises, particularly microenterprises, successfully engage with the tourism industry in subSaharan Africa.

(9) Adequate capacity building is an essential component

of ecotourism development if local communities are to be real

stakeholders that can sustain an equitable approach to

ecotourism management.

(10) Ecotourism needs to generate local community benefits

by utilizing sub-Saharan Africa’s natural heritage, parks, wildlife reserves, and other protected areas that can play a significant role in encouraging local economic development by sourcing

food and other locally produced resources.

(b) ACTION BY THE PRESIDENT.—The President shall develop

and implement policies to—

(1) encourage the development of infrastructure projects

that will help to increase trade capacity and a sustainable

ecotourism industry in eligible sub-Saharan African countries;

(2) encourage and facilitate transboundary cooperation

among sub-Saharan African countries in order to facilitate

trade;

(3) encourage the provision of technical assistance to

eligible sub-Saharan African countries to establish and sustain

adequate trade capacity development; and

(4) encourage micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises

in eligible sub-Saharan African countries to participate in the

ecotourism industry.

SEC. 11. ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF TRANSPORTATION, ENERGY,

AGRICULTURE, AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:

(1) In order to increase exports from, and trade among,

eligible sub-Saharan African countries, transportation systems

in those countries must be improved to increase transport efficiencies and lower transport costs.
H. R. 4103—10

(2) Vibrant economic growth requires a developed telecommunication and energy infrastructure.

(3) Sub-Saharan Africa is rich in exportable agricultural

goods, but development of this industry remains stymied

because of an underdeveloped infrastructure.

(b) ACTION BY THE PRESIDENT.—In order to enhance trade

with Africa and to bring the benefits of trade to African countries,

the President shall develop and implement policies to encourage

investment in eligible sub-Saharan African countries, particularly

with respect to the following:

(1) Infrastructure projects that support, in particular,

development of land transport road and railroad networks and

ports, and the continued upgrading and liberalization of the

energy and telecommunications sectors.

(2) The establishment and expansion of modern information

and communication technologies and practices to improve the

ability of citizens to research and disseminate information

relating to, among other things, the economy, education, trade,

health, agriculture, the environment, and the media.

(3) Agriculture, particularly in processing and capacity

enhancement.

SEC. 12. FACILITATION OF TRANSPORTATION.

In order to facilitate and increase trade flows between eligible

sub-Saharan African countries and the United States, the President

shall foster improved port-to-port and airport-to-airport relationships. These relationships should facilitate—

(1) increased coordination between customs services at

ports and airports in the United States and such countries

in order to reduce time in transit;

(2) interaction between customs and technical staff from

ports and airports in the United States and such countries

in order to increase efficiency and safety procedures and protocols relating to trade;

(3) coordination between chambers of commerce, freight

forwarders, customs brokers, and others involved in consolidating and moving freight; and

(4) trade through air service between airports in the United

States and such countries by increasing frequency and capacity.

SEC. 13. AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

(a) IDENTIFICATION OF COUNTRIES.—The President shall identify not fewer than 10 eligible sub-Saharan African countries as

having the greatest potential to increase marketable exports of

agricultural products to the United States and the greatest need

for technical assistance, particularly with respect to pest risk assessments and complying with sanitary and phytosanitary rules of

the United States.

(b) PERSONNEL.—The President shall assign at least 20 fulltime personnel for the purpose of providing assistance to the countries identified under subsection (a) to ensure that exports of agricultural products from those countries meet the requirements of

United States law.

SEC. 14. TRADE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AFRICA.

The President shall convene the trade advisory committee on

Africa established by Executive Order 11846 of March 27, 1975,

under section 135(c) of the Trade Act of 1974, in order to facilitate
H. R. 4103—11

the goals and objectives of the African Growth and Opportunity

Act and this Act, and to maintain ongoing discussions with African

trade and agriculture ministries and private sector organizations

on issues of mutual concern, including regional and international

trade concerns and World Trade Organization issues.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.