vention in the market such as price controls and sub-
sidies, and streamlining the business license process;
(10) supporting the growth of the private sector,
in particular by promoting the emergence of a new
generation of African entrepreneurs;
(11) encouraging the private ownership of gov-
ernment-controlled economic enterprises through di-
vestiture programs; and
(12) observing the rule of law, including equal
protection under the law and the right to due process
and a fair trial.
(b) ADDITIONAL FACTORS.—In determining whether a
sub-Saharan African country is eligible under subsection
(a), the President shall take into account the following fac-
tors:
(1) An expression by such country of its desire
to be an eligible country under subsection (a).
(2) The extent to which such country has made
substantial progress toward—
(A) reducing tariff levels;
(B) binding its tariffs in the World Trade
Organization and assuming meaningful binding
obligations in other sectors of trade; and
(C) eliminating nontariff barriers to trade.
(3) Whether such country, if not already a mem-
ber of the World Trade Organization, is actively pur-
suing membership in that Organization.
(4) Where applicable, the extent to which such
country is in material compliance with its obligations
to the International Monetary Fund and other inter-
national financial institutions.
(5) The extent to which such country has a rec-
ognizable commitment to reducing poverty, increasing
the availability of health care and educational oppor-
tunities, the expansion of physical infrastructure in a
manner designed to maximize accessibility, increased
access to market and credit facilities for small farm-
ers and producers, and improved economic opportuni-
ties for women as entrepreneurs and employees, and
promoting and enabling the formation of capital to
support the establishment and operation of micro-en-
terprises.
(6) Whether or not such country engages in ac-
tivities that undermine United States national secu-
rity or foreign policy interests.
(c) CONTINUING COMPLIANCE.—
(1) MONITORING AND REVIEW OF CERTAIN COUN-
TRIES.—The President shall monitor and review the
progress of sub-Saharan African countries in order to
determine their current or potential eligibility under
subsection (a). Such determinations shall be based on
quantitative factors to the fullest extent possible and
shall be included in the annual report required by
section 15.
(2) INELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN COUNTRIES.—A
sub-Saharan African country described in paragraph
(1) that has not made continual progress in meeting
the requirements with which it is not in compliance
shall be ineligible to participate in programs,
projects, or activities, or receive assistance or other
benefits, under this Act.
SEC. 5. UNITED STATES-SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA TRADE AND
ECONOMIC COOPERATION FORUM.
(a) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—The President shall
convene annual high-level meetings between appropriate of-
ficials of the United States Government and officials of the
governments of sub-Saharan African countries in order to
foster close economic ties between the United States and sub-
Saharan Africa.
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 12 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the President, after
consulting with Congress and the governments concerned,
shall establish a United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade
and Economic Cooperation Forum (hereafter in this section
referred to as the ‘‘Forum’’).
(c) REQUIREMENTS.—In creating the Forum, the
President shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The President shall direct the Secretary of
Commerce, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Sec-
retary of State, and the United States Trade Rep-
resentative to host the first annual meeting with the
counterparts of such Secretaries from the governments
of sub-Saharan African countries eligible under sec-
tion 4, the Secretary General of the Organization of
African Unity, and government officials from other
appropriate countries in Africa, to discuss expanding
trade and investment relations between the United
States and sub-Saharan Africa and the implementa-
tion of this Act including encouraging joint ventures
between small and large businesses.
(2)(A) The President, in consultation with the
Congress, shall encourage United States nongovern-
mental organizations to host annual meetings with
nongovernmental organizations from sub-Saharan Af-
rica in conjunction with the annual meetings of the
Forum for the purpose of discussing the issues de-
scribed in paragraph (1).
(B) The President, in consultation with the Con-
gress, shall encourage United States representatives of
the private sector to host annual meetings with rep-
resentatives of the private sector from sub-Saharan
Africa in conjunction with the annual meetings of the
Forum for the purpose of discussing the issues de-
scribed in paragraph (1).
(3) The President shall, to the extent practicable,
meet with the heads of governments of sub-Saharan
African countries eligible under section 4 not less
than once every two years for the purpose of dis-
cussing the issues described in paragraph (1). The
first such meeting should take place not later than
twelve months after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(d) DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION BY USIA.—In
order to assist in carrying out the purposes of the Forum,
the United States Information Agency shall disseminate
regularly, through multiple media, economic information in
support of the free market economic reforms described in
this Act.
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary to carry out this section.
(f) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—None of the funds
authorized under this section may be used to create or sup-
port any nongovernmental organization for the purpose of
expanding or facilitating trade between the United States
and sub-Saharan Africa.
SEC. 6. UNITED STATES–SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA FREE TRADE
AREA.
(a) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—The Congress declares
that a United States–Sub-Saharan Africa Free Trade Area
should be established, or free trade agreements should be en-
tered into, in order to serve as the catalyst for increasing
trade between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa
and increasing private sector development in sub-Saharan
Africa.
(b) PLAN REQUIREMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The President, taking into ac-
count the provisions of the treaty establishing the Af-
rican Economic Community and the willingness of
the governments of sub-Saharan African countries to
engage in negotiations to enter into free trade agree-
ments, shall develop a plan for the purpose of entering
into one or more trade agreements with sub-Saharan
African countries eligible under section 4 in order to
establish a United States–Sub-Saharan Africa Free
Trade Area (hereafter in this section referred to as the
‘‘Free Trade Area’’).
(2) ELEMENTS OF PLAN.—The plan shall include
the following:
(A) The specific objectives of the United
States with respect to the establishment of the
Free Trade Area and a suggested timetable for
achieving those objectives.
(B) The benefits to both the United States
and sub-Saharan Africa with respect to the Free
Trade Area.
(C) A mutually agreed-upon timetable for
establishing the Free Trade Area.
(D) The implications for and the role of re-
gional and sub-regional organizations in sub-Sa-
haran Africa with respect to the Free Trade
Area.
(E) Subject matter anticipated to be covered
by the agreement for establishing the Free Trade
Area and United States laws, programs, and
policies, as well as the laws of participating eli-
gible African countries and existing bilateral
and multilateral and economic cooperation and
trade agreements, that may be affected by the
agreement or agreements.
(F) Procedures to ensure the following:
(i) Adequate consultation with the
Congress and the private sector during the
negotiation of the agreement or agreements
for establishing the Free Trade Area.
(ii) Consultation with the Congress re-
garding all matters relating to implementa-
tion of the agreement or agreements.
(iii) Approval by the Congress of the
agreement or agreements.
(iv) Adequate consultations with the
relevant African governments and African
regional and subregional intergovernmental
organizations during the negotiations of the
agreement or agreements.
(c) REPORTING REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 12
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Presi-
dent shall prepare and transmit to the Congress a report
containing the plan developed pursuant to subsection (b).
SEC. 7. ELIMINATING TRADE BARRIERS AND ENCOURAGING
EXPORTS.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following
findings:
(1) The lack of competitiveness of sub-Saharan
Africa in the global market, especially in the manu-
facturing sector, make it a limited threat to market
disruption and no threat to United States jobs.
(2) Annual textile and apparel exports to the
United States from sub-Saharan Africa represent less
than 1 percent of all textile and apparel exports to
the United States, which totaled $54,001,863,000 in
1997.
(3) Sub-Saharan Africa has limited textile man-
ufacturing capacity. During 1999 and the succeeding
4 years, this limited capacity to manufacture textiles
and apparel is projected to grow at a modest rate.
Given this limited capacity to export textiles and ap-
parel, it will be very difficult for these exports from
sub-Saharan Africa, during 1999 and the succeeding
9 years, to exceed 3 percent annually of total imports
of textile and apparel to the United States. If these
exports from sub-Saharan Africa remain around 3
percent of total imports, they will not represent a
threat to United States workers, consumers, or manu-
facturers.
(b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the
Congress that—
(1) it would be to the mutual benefit of the coun-
tries in sub-Saharan Africa and the United States to
ensure that the commitments of the World Trade Or-
ganization and associated agreements are faithfully
implemented in each of the member countries, so as
to lay the groundwork for sustained growth in textile
and apparel exports and trade under agreed rules and
disciplines;
(2) reform of trade policies in sub-Saharan Afri-
ca with the objective of removing structural impedi-
ments to trade, consistent with obligations under the
World Trade Organization, can assist the countries of
the region in achieving greater and greater diver-
sification of textile and apparel export commodities
and products and export markets; and
(3) the President should support textile and ap-
parel trade reform in sub-Saharan Africa by, among
other measures, providing technical assistance, shar-
ing of information to expand basic knowledge of how
to trade with the United States, and encouraging
business-to-business contacts with the region.
(c) TREATMENT OF QUOTAS.—
(1) KENYA AND MAURITIUS.—Pursuant to the
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, the United
States shall eliminate the existing quotas on textile
and apparel exports to the United States—
(A) from Kenya within 30 days after that
country adopts an efficient visa system to guard
against unlawful transshipment of textile and
apparel goods and the use of counterfeit docu-
ments; and
(B) from Mauritius within 30 days after
that country adopts such a visa system.
The Customs Service shall provide the necessary tech-
nical assistance to Kenya and Mauritius in the devel-
opment and implementation of those visa systems.
(2) 
OTHER
SUB-SAHARAN
COUNTRIES.—The
President shall continue the existing no quota policy
for countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The President
shall submit to the Congress, not later than March 31
of each year, a report on the growth in textiles and
apparel exports to the United States from countries
in sub-Saharan Africa in order to protect United
States consumers, workers, and textile manufacturers
from economic injury on account of the no quota pol-
icy.
(d) CUSTOMS PROCEDURES AND ENFORCEMENT.—
(1) ACTIONS
BY
COUNTRIES
AGAINST
TRANS-
SHIPMENT
AND
CIRCUMVENTION.—The 
President
should ensure that any country in sub-Saharan Afri-
ca that intends to export textile and apparel goods to
the United States—
(A) has in place a functioning and effective
visa system and domestic laws and enforcement
procedures to guard against unlawful trans-
shipment of textile and apparel goods and the
use of counterfeit documents; and
(B) will cooperate fully with the United
States to address and take action necessary to
prevent circumvention, as provided in Article 5
of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.
(2) PENALTIES
AGAINST
EXPORTERS.—If the
President determines, based on sufficient evidence,
that an exporter has willfully falsified information re-
garding the country of origin, manufacture, proc-
essing, or assembly of a textile or apparel article for
which duty-free treatment under section 503(a)(1)(C)
of the Trade Act of 1974 is claimed, then the Presi-
dent shall deny to such exporter, and any successors
of such exporter, for a period of 2 years, duty-free
treatment under such section for textile and apparel
articles.
(3) APPLICABILITY OF UNITED STATES LAWS AND
PROCEDURES.—All provisions of the laws, regula-
tions, and procedures of the United States relating to
the denial of entry of articles or penalties against in-
dividuals or entities for engaging in illegal trans-
shipment, fraud, or other violations of the customs
laws shall apply to imports from Sub-Saharan coun-
tries.
(4) MONITORING AND REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—
The Customs Service shall monitor and the Commis-
sioner of Customs shall submit to the Congress, not
later than March 31 of each year, a report on the ef-
fectiveness of the visa systems described in subsection
(c)(1) and paragraph (1) of this subsection and on
measures taken by countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
which export textiles or apparel to the United States
to prevent circumvention as described in Article 5 of
the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.
(e) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘‘Agreement on Textiles and Clothing’’ means the
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing referred to in section
101(d)(4) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C.
3511(d)(4)).
SEC. 8. GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES.
(a) PREFERENTIAL TARIFF TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN
ARTICLES.—Section 503(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
U.S.C. 2463(a)(1)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (D); and
‘‘(i) if the cost or value of materials
produced in the customs territory of the
United States is included with respect to
that article, an amount not to exceed 15
percent of the appraised value of the article
at the time it is entered that is attributed
to such United States cost or value may be
applied toward determining the percentage
referred to in subparagraph (A); and
‘‘(ii) the cost or value of the materials
included with respect to that article that are
produced in any beneficiary developing
country that is an eligible country in sub-
Saharan Africa shall be applied in deter-
mining such percentage.’’.
(c) WAIVER OF COMPETITIVE NEED LIMITATION.—
Section 503(c)(2)(D) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.
2463(c)(2)(D)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(D) LEAST-DEVELOPED BENEFICIARY DE-
VELOPING COUNTRIES AND ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES
IN
SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA.—Subparagraph (A)
shall not apply to any least-developed beneficiary
developing country or any eligible country in
sub-Saharan Africa.’’.
(d) EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.—Section 505 of the
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2465) is amended to read
as follows:
‘‘SEC. 505. DATE OF TERMINATION.
‘‘(a) COUNTRIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.—No duty-
free treatment provided under this title shall remain in ef-
fect after June 30, 2009, with respect to beneficiary devel-
oping countries that are eligible countries in sub-Saharan
Africa.
‘‘(b) OTHER COUNTRIES.—No duty-free treatment pro-
vided under this title shall remain in effect after June 30,
1999, with respect to beneficiary developing countries other
than those provided for in subsection (a).’’.
(e) DEFINITION.—Section 507 of the Trade Act of 1974
(19 U.S.C. 2467) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(6) ELIGIBLE COUNTRY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRI-
CA.—The terms ‘eligible country in sub-Saharan Afri-
ca’ and ‘eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa’
mean a country or countries that the President has
determined to be eligible under section 4 of the Afri-
can Growth and Opportunity Act.’’.
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this
section take effect on July 1, 1999.
SEC. 9. INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND
DEBT REDUCTION.
(a) BETTER MECHANISMS TO FURTHER GOALS FOR
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.—It is the sense of the Congress that
the Secretary of the Treasury should instruct the United
States Executive Directors of the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, the International Mone-
tary Fund, and the African Development Bank to use the
voice and votes of the Executive Directors to encourage vig-
orously their respective institutions to develop enhanced
mechanisms which further the following goals in eligible
countries in sub-Saharan Africa:
(1) Strengthening and expanding the private sec-
tor, especially among women-owned businesses.
(2) Reducing tariffs, nontariff barriers, and
other trade obstacles, and increasing economic inte-
gration.
(3) Supporting countries committed to account-
able government, economic reform, the eradication of
poverty, and the building of civil societies.
(4) Supporting deep debt reduction at the ear-
liest possible date with the greatest amount of relief
for eligible poorest countries under the ‘‘Heavily In-
debted Poor Countries’’ (HIPC) debt initiative.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that relief provided to countries in sub-Saharan Afri-
ca which qualify for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
debt initiative should primarily be made through grants
rather than through extended-term debt, and that interim
relief or interim financing should be provided for eligible
countries that establish a strong record of macroeconomic
reform.
SEC. 10. EXECUTIVE BRANCH INITIATIVES.
(a) STATEMENT OF CONGRESS.—The Congress recog-
nizes that the stated policy of the executive branch in 1997,
the ‘‘Partnership for Growth and Opportunity in Africa’’
initiative, is a step toward the establishment of a com-
prehensive trade and development policy for sub-Saharan
Africa. It is the sense of the Congress that this Partnership
is a companion to the policy goals set forth in this Act.
(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC
REFORMS AND DEVELOPMENT.—In addition to continuing
bilateral and multilateral economic and development assist-
ance, the President shall target technical assistance
toward—
(1) developing relationships between United
States firms and firms in sub-Saharan Africa
through a variety of business associations and net-
works;
(2) providing assistance to the governments of
sub-Saharan African countries to—
(A) liberalize trade and promote exports;
(B) bring their legal regimes into compli-
ance with the standards of the World Trade Or-
ganization in conjunction with membership in
that Organization;
(C) make financial and fiscal reforms; and
(D) promote greater agribusiness linkages;
(3) addressing such critical agricultural policy
issues as market liberalization, agricultural export de-
velopment, and agribusiness investment in processing
and transporting agricultural commodities;
(4) increasing the number of reverse trade mis-
sions to growth-oriented countries in sub-Saharan Af-
rica;
(5) increasing trade in services; and
(6) encouraging greater sub-Saharan participa-
tion in future negotiations in the World Trade Orga-
nization on services and making further commitments
in their schedules to the General Agreement on Trade
in Services in order to encourage the removal of tariff
and nontariff barriers.
SEC. 11. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.
(a) INITIATION OF FUNDS.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
should exercise the authorities it has to initiate an equity
fund or equity funds in support of projects in the countries
in sub-Saharan Africa, in addition to the existing equity
fund for sub-Saharan Africa created by the Corporation.
(b) STRUCTURE AND TYPES OF FUNDS.—
(1) STRUCTURE.—Each fund initiated under
subsection (a) should be structured as a partnership
managed by professional private sector fund man-
agers and monitored on a continuing basis by the
Corporation.
(2) CAPITALIZATION.—Each fund should be cap-
italized with a combination of private equity capital,
which is not guaranteed by the Corporation, and debt
for which the Corporation provides guaranties.
(3) INFRASTRUCTURE
FUND.—One or more of
the 
funds, 
with 
combined 
assets 
of 
up 
to
$500,000,000, should be used in support of infrastruc-
ture projects in countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
(4) EMPHASIS.—The Corporation shall ensure
that the funds are used to provide support in par-
ticular to women entrepreneurs and to innovative in-
vestments that expand opportunities for women and
maximize employment opportunities for poor individ-
uals.
SEC. 12. OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
AND EXPORT-IMPORT BANK INITIATIVES.
(a) OVERSEAS
PRIVATE
INVESTMENT
CORPORA-
TION.—
(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Section 233 of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is amended by adding
at the end the following:
‘‘(e) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The Board shall take
prompt measures to increase the loan, guarantee, and in-
surance programs, and financial commitments, of the Cor-
poration in sub-Saharan Africa, including through the use
of an advisory committee to assist the Board in developing
and implementing policies, programs, and financial instru-
ments with respect to sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the
advisory committee shall make recommendations to the
Board on how the Corporation can facilitate greater sup-
port by the United States for trade and investment with
and in sub-Saharan Africa. The advisory committee shall
terminate 4 years after the date of the enactment of this
subsection.’’.
(2) REPORTS
TO
THE
CONGRESS.—Within 6
months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and annually for each of the 4 years thereafter, the
Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment
Corporation shall submit to the Congress a report on
the steps that the Board has taken to implement sec-
tion 233(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as
added by paragraph (1)) and any recommendations
of the advisory board established pursuant to such
section.
(b) EXPORT-IMPORT BANK.—
(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR SUB-SAHARAN AF-
RICA.—Section 2(b) of the Export-Import Bank Act of
1945 (12 U.S.C. 635(b)) is amended by inserting
after paragraph (12) the following:
‘‘(13)(A) The Board of Directors of the Bank shall take
prompt measures, consistent with the credit standards oth-
erwise required by law, to promote the expansion of the
Bank’s financial commitments in sub-Saharan Africa
under the loan, guarantee, and insurance programs of the
Bank.
‘‘(B)(i) The Board of Directors shall establish and use
an advisory committee to advise the Board of Directors on
the development and implementation of policies and pro-
grams designed to support the expansion described in sub-
paragraph (A).
‘‘(ii) The advisory committee shall make recommenda-
tions to the Board of Directors on how the Bank can facili-
tate greater support by United States commercial banks for
trade with sub-Saharan Africa.
‘‘(iii) The advisory committee shall terminate 4 years
after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph.’’.
(2) REPORTS
TO
THE
CONGRESS.—Within 6
months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and annually for each of the 4 years thereafter, the
Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the
United States shall submit to the Congress a report
on the steps that the Board has taken to implement
section 2(b)(13)(B) of the Export-Import Bank Act of
1945 (as added by paragraph (1)) and any rec-
ommendations of the advisory committee established
pursuant to such section.
SEC. 13. ASSISTANT UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTA-
TIVE FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that the position of Assistant United States Trade
Representative for African Affairs is integral to the United
States commitment to increasing United States—sub-Saha-
ran African trade and investment.
(b) MAINTENANCE OF POSITION.—The President shall
maintain a position of Assistant United States Trade Rep-
resentative for African Affairs within the Office of the
United States Trade Representative to direct and coordi-
nate interagency activities on United States-Africa trade
policy and investment matters and serve as—
(1) a primary point of contact in the executive
branch for those persons engaged in trade between the
United States and sub-Saharan Africa; and
(2) the chief advisor to the United States Trade
Representative on issues of trade with Africa.
(c) FUNDING AND STAFF.—The President shall ensure
that the Assistant United States Trade Representative for
African Affairs has adequate funding and staff to carry out
the duties described in subsection (b), subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations.
SEC. 14. EXPANSION OF THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN
COMMERCIAL 
SERVICE 
IN 
SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following
findings:
(1) The United States and Foreign Commercial
Service (hereafter in this section referred to as the
‘‘Commercial Service’’) plays an important role in
helping United States businesses identify export op-
portunities and develop reliable sources of informa-
tion on commercial prospects in foreign countries.
(2) During the 1980s, the presence of the Com-
mercial Service in sub-Saharan Africa consisted of 14
professionals providing services in eight countries. By
early 1997, that presence had been reduced by half to
seven, in only four countries.
(3) Since 1997, the Department of Commerce has
slowly begun to increase the presence of the Commer-
cial Service in sub-Saharan Africa, adding five full-
time officers to established posts.
(4) Although the Commercial Service Officers in
these countries have regional responsibilities, this
kind of coverage does not adequately service the needs
of United States businesses attempting to do business
in sub-Saharan Africa.
(5) The Congress has, on several occasions, en-
couraged the Commercial Service to focus its resources
and efforts in countries or regions in Europe or Asia
to promote greater United States export activity in
those markets.
(6) Because market information is not widely
available in many sub-Saharan African countries, the
presence of additional Commercial Service Officers
and resources can play a significant role in assisting
United States businesses in markets in those coun-
tries.
(b) APPOINTMENTS.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations, by not later than December 31, 2000, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary
of Commerce and Director General of the United States and
Foreign Commercial Service, shall take steps to ensure
that—
(1) at least 20 full-time Commercial Service em-
ployees are stationed in sub-Saharan Africa; and
(2) full-time Commercial Service employees are
stationed in not less than ten different sub-Saharan
African countries.
(c) COMMERCIAL SERVICE INITIATIVE FOR SUB-SAHA-
RAN AFRICA.—In order to encourage the export of United
States goods and services to sub-Saharan African countries,
the Commercial Service shall make a special effort to—
(1) identify United States goods and services
which are not being exported to sub-Saharan African
countries but which are being exported to those coun-
tries by competitor nations;
(2) identify, where appropriate, trade barriers
and noncompetitive actions, including violations of
intellectual property rights, that are preventing or
hindering sales of United States goods and services to,
or the operation of United States companies in, sub-
Saharan Africa;
(3) present, periodically, a list of the goods and
services identified under paragraph (1), and any
trade barriers or noncompetitive actions identified
under paragraph (2), to appropriate authorities in
sub-Saharan African countries with a view to secur-
ing increased market access for United States export-
ers of goods and services;
(4) facilitate the entrance by United States busi-
nesses into the markets identified under paragraphs
(1) and (2); and
(5) monitor and evaluate the results of efforts to
increase the sales of goods and services in such mar-
kets.
(d) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and each year
thereafter for five years, the Secretary of Commerce, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of State, shall report to the
Congress on actions taken to carry out subsections (b) and
(c). Each report shall specify—
(1) in what countries full-time Commercial Serv-
ice Officers are stationed, and the number of such offi-
cers placed in each such country;
(2) the effectiveness of the presence of the addi-
tional Commercial Service Officers in increasing
United States exports to sub-Saharan African coun-
tries; and
(3) the specific actions taken by Commercial
Service Officers, both in sub-Saharan African coun-
tries and in the United States, to carry out subsection
(c), including identifying a list of targeted export sec-
tors and countries.
SEC. 15. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
The President shall submit to the Congress, not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and
not later than the end of each of the next 6 1-year periods
thereafter, a comprehensive report on the trade and invest-
ment policy of the United States for sub-Saharan Africa,
and on the implementation of this Act. The last report re-
quired by section 134(b) of the Uruguay Round Agreements
Act (19 U.S.C. 3554(b)) shall be consolidated and submitted
with the first report required by this section.
SEC. 16. DONATION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT
TO ELIGIBLE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUN-
TRIES.
It is the sense of the Congress that, to the extent appro-
priate, the United States Government should make every
effort to donate to governments of sub-Saharan African
countries (determined to be eligible under section 4 of this
Act) air traffic control equipment that is no longer in use,
including appropriate related reimbursable technical assist-
ance.
SEC. 17. ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES AND INCREASED FLEXI-
BILITY TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE UNDER THE
DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR AFRICA.
(a) USE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
TO SUPPORT FURTHER ECONOMIC GROWTH.—It is the
sense of the Congress that sustained economic growth in sub-
Saharan Africa depends in large measure upon the develop-
ment of a receptive environment for trade and investment,
and that to achieve this objective the United States Agency
for International Development should continue to support
programs which help to create this environment. Invest-
ments in human resources, development, and implementa-
tion of free market policies, including policies to liberalize
agricultural markets and improve food security, and the
support for the rule of law and democratic governance
should continue to be encouraged and enhanced on a bilat-
eral and regional basis.
(b) DECLARATIONS OF POLICY.—The Congress makes
the following declarations:
(1) The Development Fund for Africa established
under chapter 10 of part I of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2293 et seq.) has been an effec-
tive tool in providing development assistance to sub-
Saharan Africa since 1988.
(2) The Development Fund for Africa will com-
plement the other provisions of this Act and lay a
foundation for increased trade and investment oppor-
tunities between the United States and sub-Saharan
Africa.
(3) Assistance provided through the Development
Fund for Africa will continue to support programs
and activities that promote the long term economic
development of sub-Saharan Africa, such as programs
and activities relating to the following:
(A) Strengthening primary and vocational
education systems, especially the acquisition of
middle-level technical skills for operating modern
private businesses and the introduction of college
level business education, including the study of
international business, finance, and stock ex-
changes.
(B) Strengthening health care systems.
(C) Strengthening family planning service
delivery systems.
(D) Supporting democratization, good gov-
ernance and civil society and conflict resolution
efforts.
(E) Increasing food security by promoting
the expansion of agricultural and agriculture-
based industrial production and productivity
and increasing real incomes for poor individ-
uals.
(F) Promoting an enabling environment for
private sector-led growth through sustained eco-
nomic reform, privatization programs, and mar-
ket-led economic activities.
(G) Promoting decentralization and local
participation in the development process, espe-
cially linking the rural production sectors and
the industrial and market centers throughout Af-
rica.
(H) Increasing the technical and manage-
rial capacity of sub-Saharan African individuals
to manage the economy of sub-Saharan Africa.
(I) Ensuring sustainable economic growth
through environmental protection.
(4) The African Development Foundation has a
unique congressional mandate to empower the poor to
participate fully in development and to increase op-
portunities for gainful employment, poverty allevi-
ation, and more equitable income distribution in sub-
Saharan Africa. The African Development Founda-
tion has worked successfully to enhance the role of
women as agents of change, strengthen the informal
sector with an emphasis on supporting micro and
small sized enterprises, indigenous technologies, and
mobilizing local financing. The African Development
Foundation should develop and implement strategies
for promoting participation in the socioeconomic de-
velopment process of grassroots and informal sector
groups such as nongovernmental organizations, co-
operatives, artisans, and traders into the programs
and initiatives established under this Act.
(c) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 496(h) of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2293(h)) is
amended—
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as
paragraph (4); and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(3) DEMOCRATIZATION AND CONFLICT RESOLU-
TION
CAPABILITIES.—Assistance under this section
may also include program assistance—
‘‘(A) to promote democratization, good gov-
ernance, and strong civil societies in sub-Saha-
ran Africa; and
‘‘(B) to strengthen conflict resolution capa-
bilities of governmental, intergovernmental, and
nongovernmental 
entities 
in 
sub-Saharan
Africa.’’.
(2) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section
496(h)(4) of such Act, as amended by paragraph (1),
is further amended by striking ‘‘paragraphs (1) and
(2)’’ in the first sentence and inserting ‘‘paragraphs
(1), (2), and (3)’’.
SEC. 18. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA DEFINED.
For purposes of this Act, the terms ‘‘sub-Saharan Afri-
ca’’, ‘‘sub-Saharan African country’’, ‘‘country in sub-Sa-
haran Africa’’, and ‘‘countries in sub-Saharan Africa’’ refer
to the following or any successor political entities:
Republic of Angola (Angola)
Republic of Botswana (Botswana)
Republic of Burundi (Burundi)
Republic of Cape Verde (Cape Verde)
Republic of Chad (Chad)
Democratic Republic of Congo
Republic of the Congo (Congo)
Republic of Djibouti (Djibouti)
State of Eritrea (Eritrea)
Gabonese Republic (Gabon)
Republic of Ghana (Ghana)
Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Guinea-Bissau)
Kingdom of Lesotho (Lesotho)
Republic of Madagascar (Madagascar)
Republic of Mali (Mali)
Republic of Mauritius (Mauritius)
Republic of Namibia (Namibia)
Federal Republic of Nigeria (Nigeria)
Democratic Republic of Sao Tome´ and Principe
(Sao Tome´ and Principe)
Republic of Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone)
Somalia
Kingdom of Swaziland (Swaziland)
Republic of Togo (Togo)
Republic of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Republic of Benin (Benin)
Burkina Faso (Burkina)
Republic of Cameroon (Cameroon)
Central African Republic
Federal 
Islamic 
Republic 
of 
the 
Comoros
(Comoros)
Republic of Coˆte d’Ivoire (Coˆte d’Ivoire)
Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Equatorial
Guinea)
Ethiopia
Republic of the Gambia (Gambia)
Republic of Guinea (Guinea)
Republic of Kenya (Kenya)
Republic of Liberia (Liberia)
Republic of Malawi (Malawi)
Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Mauritania)
Republic of Mozambique (Mozambique)
Republic of Niger (Niger)
Republic of Rwanda (Rwanda)
Republic of Senegal (Senegal)
Republic of Seychelles (Seychelles)
Republic of South Africa (South Africa)
Republic of Sudan (Sudan)
United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania)
Republic of Uganda (Uganda)
Republic of Zambia (Zambia)
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘African
Growth and Opportunity Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that it is in the mutual
economic interest of the United States and
sub-Saharan Africa to promote stable and sus-
tainable economic growth and development
in sub-Saharan Africa and that sustained eco-
nomic growth in sub-Saharan Africa depends
in large measure upon the development of a
receptive environment for trade and invest-
ment. To that end, the United States seeks to
facilitate market-led economic growth in, and
thereby the social and economic development
of, the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. In
particular, the United States seeks to assist
sub-Saharan African countries, and the pri-
vate sector in those countries, to achieve eco-
nomic self-reliance by—
(1) strengthening and expanding the
private sector in sub-Saharan Africa, es-
pecially women-owned businesses;
(2) encouraging increased trade and
investment between the United States
and sub-Saharan Africa;
(3) reducing tariff and nontariff bar-
riers and other trade obstacles;
(4) expanding United States assist-
ance to sub-Saharan Africa’s regional in-
tegration efforts;
(5) negotiating free trade areas;
(6) establishing a United States-Sub-
Saharan Africa Trade and Investment
Partnership;
(7) focusing on countries committed
to accountable government, economic re-
form, and the eradication of poverty;
(8) establishing a United States-Sub-
Saharan Africa Economic Cooperation
Forum; and
(9) continuing to support develop-
ment assistance for those countries in
sub-Saharan Africa attempting to build
civil societies.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
The Congress supports economic self-reli-
ance for sub-Saharan African countries, par-
ticularly those committed to—
(1) economic and political reform;
(2) market incentives and private sec-
tor growth;
(3) the eradication of poverty; and
(4) the importance of women to eco-
nomic growth and development.
SEC. 4. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—A sub-Saharan African
country shall be eligible to participate in pro-
grams, projects, or activities, or receive assist-
ance or other benefits under this Act if the
President determines that the country does
not engage in gross violations of internation-
ally recognized human rights and has estab-
lished, or is making continual progress to-
ward establishing, a market-based economy,
such as the establishment and enforcement of
appropriate policies relating to—
(1) promoting free movement of goods
and services between the United States
and sub-Saharan Africa and among coun-
tries in sub-Saharan Africa;
(2) promoting the expansion of the
production base and the transformation
of commodities and nontraditional prod-
ucts for exports through joint venture
projects between African and foreign in-
vestors;
(3) trade issues, such as protection of
intellectual 
property 
rights, 
improve-
ments in standards, testing, labeling and
certification, and government procure-
ment;
(4) the protection of property rights,
such as protection against expropriation
and a functioning and fair judicial sys-
tem;
(5) appropriate fiscal systems, such as
reducing 
high 
import 
and 
corporate
taxes, controlling government consump-
tion, participation in bilateral investment
treaties, and the harmonization of such
treaties to avoid double taxation;
(6) foreign investment issues, such as
the provision of national treatment for
foreign investors, removing restrictions
on investment, and other measures to
create an environment conducive to do-
mestic and foreign investment;
(7) supporting the growth of regional
markets within a free trade area frame-
work;
(8) governance issues, such as elimi-
nating 
government 
corruption, 
mini-
mizing government intervention in the
market such as price controls and sub-
sidies, and streamlining the business li-
cense process;
(9) supporting the growth of the pri-
vate sector, in particular by promoting
the emergence of a new generation of Af-
rican entrepreneurs;
(10) encouraging the private owner-
ship of government-controlled economic
enterprises 
through 
divestiture 
pro-
grams; and
(11) observing the rule of law, includ-
ing equal protection under the law and
the right to due process and a fair trial.
(b) ADDITIONAL FACTORS.—In determining
whether a sub-Saharan African country is eli-
gible under subsection (a), the President shall
take into account the following factors:
(1) An expression by such country of
its desire to be an eligible country under
subsection (a).
(2) The extent to which such country
has made substantial progress toward—
(A) reducing tariff levels;
(B) binding its tariffs in the World
Trade Organization and assuming
meaningful binding obligations in
other sectors of trade; and
(C) eliminating nontariff barriers
to trade.
(3) Whether such country, if not al-
ready a member of the World Trade Orga-
nization, is actively pursuing member-
ship in that Organization.
(4) Where applicable, the extent to
which such country is in material compli-
ance with its obligations to the Inter-
national Monetary Fund and other inter-
national financial institutions.
(5) The extent to which such country
has a recognizable commitment to reduc-
ing poverty, increasing the availability of
health care and educational opportuni-
ties, the expansion of physical infrastruc-
ture in a manner designed to maximize
accessibility, increased access to market
and credit facilities for small farmers and
producers, and improved economic op-
portunities for women as entrepreneurs
and employees, and promoting and ena-
bling the formation of capital to support
the 
establishment 
and 
operation 
of
micro-enterprises.
(6) Whether or not such country en-
gages in activities that undermine United
States national security or foreign policy
interests.
(c) CONTINUING COMPLIANCE.—
(1) MONITORING
AND
REVIEW
OF
CER-
TAIN
COUNTRIES.—The 
President 
shall
monitor and review the progress of sub-
Saharan African countries in order to de-
termine their current or potential eligi-
bility under subsection (a). Such deter-
minations shall be based on quantitative
factors to the fullest extent possible and
shall be included in the annual report re-
quired by section 15.
(2) INELIGIBILITY
OF
CERTAIN
COUN-
TRIES.—A sub-Saharan African country
described in paragraph (1) that has not
made continual progress in meeting the
requirements with which it is not in com-
pliance shall be ineligible to participate
in programs, projects, or activities, or re-
ceive assistance or other benefits, under
this Act.
SEC. 5. UNITED STATES-SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA TRADE AND
ECONOMIC COOPERATION FORUM.
(a) DECLARATION
OF POLICY.—The Presi-
dent shall convene annual high-level meetings
between appropriate officials of the United
States Government and officials of the gov-
ernments of sub-Saharan African countries in
order to foster close economic ties between
the United States and sub-Saharan Africa.
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 12
months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the President, after consulting with Con-
gress and the governments concerned, shall
establish a United States-Sub-Saharan Africa
Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum
(hereafter in this section referred to as the
‘‘Forum’’).
(c) 
REQUIREMENTS.—In 
creating 
the
Forum, the President shall meet the following
requirements:
(1) The President shall direct the Sec-
retary of Commerce, the Secretary of the
Treasury, the Secretary of State, and the
United States Trade Representative to
host the first annual meeting with the
counterparts of such Secretaries from the
governments 
of 
sub-Saharan 
African
countries eligible under section 4, the
Secretary General of the Organization of
African Unity, and government officials
from other appropriate countries in Afri-
ca, to discuss expanding trade and invest-
ment relations between the United States
and sub-Saharan Africa and the imple-
mentation of this Act including encour-
aging joint ventures between small and
large businesses.
(2)(A) The President, in consultation
with 
the 
Congress, 
shall 
encourage
United States nongovernmental organiza-
tions to host annual meetings with non-
governmental organizations from sub-Sa-
haran Africa in conjunction with the an-
nual meetings of the Forum for the pur-
pose of discussing the issues described in
paragraph (1).
(B) The President, in consultation
with 
the 
Congress, 
shall 
encourage
United States representatives of the pri-
vate sector to host annual meetings with
representatives of the private sector from
sub-Saharan Africa in conjunction with
the annual meetings of the Forum for the
purpose of discussing the issues de-
scribed in paragraph (1).
(3) The President shall, to the extent
practicable, meet with the heads of gov-
ernments of sub-Saharan African coun-
tries eligible under section 4 not less
than once every two years for the pur-
pose of discussing the issues described in
paragraph (1). The first such meeting
should take place not later than twelve
months after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(d) DISSEMINATION
OF
INFORMATION
BY
USIA.—In order to assist in carrying out the
purposes of the Forum, the United States In-
formation Agency shall disseminate regularly,
through multiple media, economic informa-
tion in support of the free market economic
reforms described in this Act.
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
There are authorized to be appropriated such
sums as may be necessary to carry out this
section.
(f) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.—None of
the funds authorized under this section may
be used to create or support any nongovern-
mental organization for the purpose of ex-
panding or facilitating trade between the
United States and sub-Saharan Africa.
SEC. 
6. 
UNITED 
STATES–SUB-SAHARAN 
AFRICA 
FREE
TRADE AREA.
(a) DECLARATION
OF
POLICY.—The Con-
gress declares that a United States–Sub-Saha-
ran Africa Free Trade Area should be estab-
lished, or free trade agreements should be en-
tered into, in order to serve as the catalyst for
increasing trade between the United States
and sub-Saharan Africa and increasing pri-
vate sector development in sub-Saharan Afri-
ca.
(b) PLAN REQUIREMENT.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The President, tak-
ing into account the provisions of the
treaty establishing the African Economic
Community and the willingness of the
governments 
of 
sub-Saharan 
African
countries to engage in negotiations to
enter into free trade agreements, shall
develop a plan for the purpose of enter-
ing into one or more trade agreements
with sub-Saharan African countries eligi-
ble under section 4 in order to establish
a United States–Sub-Saharan Africa Free
Trade Area (hereafter in this section re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Free Trade Area’’).
(2) ELEMENTS OF PLAN.—The plan shall
include the following:
(A) The specific objectives of the
United States with respect to the es-
tablishment of the Free Trade Area
and a suggested timetable for achiev-
ing those objectives.
(B) The benefits to both the
United States and sub-Saharan Africa
with respect to the Free Trade Area.
(C) A mutually agreed-upon time-
table for establishing the Free Trade
Area.
(D) The implications for and the
role of regional and sub-regional or-
ganizations in sub-Saharan Africa
with respect to the Free Trade Area.
(E) Subject matter anticipated to
be covered by the agreement for es-
tablishing the Free Trade Area and
United States laws, programs, and
policies, as well as the laws of partici-
pating eligible African countries and
existing bilateral and multilateral
and economic cooperation and trade
agreements, that may be affected by
the agreement or agreements.
(F) Procedures to ensure the fol-
lowing:
(i) Adequate consultation with
the Congress and the private sec-
tor during the negotiation of the
agreement or agreements for es-
tablishing the Free Trade Area.
(ii) 
Consultation 
with 
the
Congress regarding all matters
relating to implementation of the
agreement or agreements.
(iii) Approval by the Congress
of the agreement or agreements.
(iv) 
Adequate 
consultations
with the relevant African govern-
ments and African regional and
subregional 
intergovernmental
organizations during the negotia-
tions of the agreement or agree-
ments.
(c) REPORTING
REQUIREMENT.—Not later
than 12 months after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the President shall prepare
and transmit to the Congress a report con-
taining the plan developed pursuant to sub-
section (b).
SEC. 7. ELIMINATING TRADE BARRIERS AND ENCOUR-
AGING EXPORTS.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the
following findings:
(1) The lack of competitiveness of
sub-Saharan Africa in the global market,
especially in the manufacturing sector,
make it a limited threat to market dis-
ruption and no threat to United States
jobs.
(2) Annual textile and apparel exports
to the United States from sub-Saharan Af-
rica represent less than 1 percent of all
textile and apparel exports to the United
States, which totaled $54,001,863,000 in
1997.
(3) Sub-Saharan Africa has limited
textile manufacturing capacity. During
1999 and the succeeding 4 years, this lim-
ited capacity to manufacture textiles and
apparel is projected to grow at a modest
rate. Given this limited capacity to ex-
port textiles and apparel, it will be very
difficult for these exports from sub-Saha-
ran Africa, during 1999 and the suc-
ceeding 9 years, to exceed 3 percent an-
nually of total imports of textile and ap-
parel to the United States. If these ex-
ports from sub-Saharan Africa remain
around 3 percent of total imports, they
will not represent a threat to United
States workers, consumers, or manufac-
turers.
(b) SENSE
OF
THE CONGRESS.—It is the
sense of the Congress that—
(1) it would be to the mutual benefit
of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa
and the United States to ensure that the
commitments of the World Trade Organi-
zation and associated agreements are
faithfully implemented in each of the
member countries, so as to lay the
groundwork for sustained growth in tex-
tile and apparel exports and trade under
agreed rules and disciplines;
(2) reform of trade policies in sub-Sa-
haran Africa with the objective of remov-
ing structural impediments to trade, con-
sistent with obligations under the World
Trade Organization, can assist the coun-
tries of the region in achieving greater
and greater diversification of textile and
apparel export commodities and products
and export markets; and
(3) the President should support tex-
tile and apparel trade reform in sub-Sa-
haran Africa by, among other measures,
providing technical assistance, sharing of
information to expand basic knowledge
of how to trade with the United States,
and 
encouraging 
business-to-business
contacts with the region.
(c) TREATMENT OF QUOTAS.—
(1) KENYA
AND
MAURITIUS.—Pursuant
to the Agreement on Textiles and Cloth-
ing, the United States shall eliminate the
existing quotas on textile and apparel ex-
ports to the United States—
(A) from Kenya within 30 days
after that country adopts an efficient
visa system to guard against unlawful
transshipment of textile and apparel
goods and the use of counterfeit doc-
uments; and
(B) from Mauritius within 30 days
after that country adopts such a visa
system.
The Customs Service shall provide the
necessary technical assistance to Kenya
and Mauritius in the development and
implementation of those visa systems.
(2) OTHER
SUB-SAHARAN
COUNTRIES.—
The President shall continue the existing
no quota policy for countries in sub-Saha-
ran Africa. The President shall submit to
the Congress, not later than March 31 of
each year, a report on the growth in tex-
tiles and apparel exports to the United
States from countries in sub-Saharan Af-
rica in order to protect United States
consumers, workers, and textile manufac-
turers from economic injury on account
of the no quota policy.
(d) CUSTOMS PROCEDURES
AND ENFORCE-
MENT.—
(1) ACTIONS
BY
COUNTRIES
AGAINST
TRANSSHIPMENT AND CIRCUMVENTION.—The
President should ensure that any country
in sub-Saharan Africa that intends to ex-
port textile and apparel goods to the
United States—
(A) has in place a functioning and
effective visa system and domestic
laws and enforcement procedures to
guard 
against 
unlawful 
trans-
shipment of textile and apparel goods
and the use of counterfeit documents;
and
(B) will cooperate fully with the
United States to address and take ac-
tion necessary to prevent circumven-
tion, as provided in Article 5 of the
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.
(2) PENALTIES AGAINST EXPORTERS.—If
the President determines, based on suffi-
cient evidence, that an exporter has will-
fully falsified information regarding the
country of origin, manufacture, proc-
essing, or assembly of a textile or apparel
article for which duty-free treatment
under section 503(a)(1)(C) of the Trade
Act of 1974 is claimed, then the President
shall deny to such exporter, and any suc-
cessors of such exporter, for a period of 2
years, duty-free treatment under such
section for textile and apparel articles.
(3) APPLICABILITY
OF
UNITED
STATES
LAWS AND PROCEDURES.—All provisions of
the laws, regulations, and procedures of
the United States relating to the denial of
entry of articles or penalties against indi-
viduals or entities for engaging in illegal
transshipment, fraud, or other violations
of the customs laws shall apply to im-
ports from Sub-Saharan countries.
(4) MONITORING AND REPORTS TO CON-
GRESS.—The Customs Service shall mon-
itor and the Commissioner of Customs
shall submit to the Congress, not later
than March 31 of each year, a report on
the effectiveness of the visa systems de-
scribed in subsection (c)(1) and para-
graph (1) of this subsection and on meas-
ures taken by countries in Sub-Saharan
Africa which export textiles or apparel to
the United States to prevent circumven-
tion as described in Article 5 of the
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.
(e) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘Agreement on Textiles and
Clothing’’ means the Agreement on Textiles
and Clothing referred to in section 101(d)(4)
of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19
U.S.C. 3511(d)(4)).
SEC. 8. GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES.
(a) PREFERENTIAL TARIFF TREATMENT FOR
CERTAIN ARTICLES.—Section 503(a)(1) of the
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2463(a)(1)) is
amended—
(1) by redesignating subparagraph
(C) as subparagraph (D); and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph
(B) the following:
‘‘(C) ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES IN SUB-SA-
HARAN
AFRICA.—The President may
provide duty-free treatment for any
article set forth in paragraph (1) of
subsection (b) that is the growth,
product, or manufacture of an eligi-
ble country in sub-Saharan Africa
that is a beneficiary developing coun-
try, if, after receiving the advice of
the International Trade Commission
in accordance with subsection (e), the
President determines that such arti-
cle is not import-sensitive in the con-
text of imports from eligible countries
in sub-Saharan Africa. This subpara-
graph shall not affect the designation
of eligible articles under subpara-
graph (B).’’.
(b) RULES OF ORIGIN.—Section 503(a)(2) of
the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2463(a)(2)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES IN SUB-SA-
HARAN AFRICA.—For purposes of deter-
mining the percentage referred to in
subparagraph (A) in the case of an ar-
ticle of an eligible country in sub-Sa-
haran Africa that is a beneficiary de-
veloping country—
‘‘(i) if the cost or value of ma-
terials produced in the customs
territory of the United States is
included with respect to that arti-
cle, an amount not to exceed 15
percent of the appraised value of
the article at the time it is en-
tered that is attributed to such
United States cost or value may
be applied toward determining
the percentage referred to in sub-
paragraph (A); and
‘‘(ii) the cost or value of the
materials included with respect
to that article that are produced
in 
any 
beneficiary 
developing
country that is an eligible country
in sub-Saharan Africa shall be ap-
plied in determining such per-
centage.’’.
(c) WAIVER OF COMPETITIVE NEED LIMITA-
TION.—Section 503(c)(2)(D) of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2463(c)(2)(D)) is amended to
read as follows:
‘‘(D) LEAST-DEVELOPED BENEFICIARY
DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES
AND
ELIGIBLE
COUNTRIES
IN
SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA.—
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to
any least-developed beneficiary de-
veloping country or any eligible coun-
try in sub-Saharan Africa.’’.
(d) EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.—Section 505
of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2465) is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 505. DATE OF TERMINATION.
‘‘(a) COUNTRIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.—
No duty-free treatment provided under this
title shall remain in effect after June 30, 2009,
with respect to beneficiary developing coun-
tries that are eligible countries in sub-Saha-
ran Africa.
‘‘(b) 
OTHER
COUNTRIES.—No 
duty-free
treatment provided under this title shall re-
main in effect after June 30, 1999, with re-
spect to beneficiary developing countries
other than those provided for in subsection
(a).’’.
(e) DEFINITION.—Section 507 of the Trade
Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2467) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following:
‘‘(6) ELIGIBLE COUNTRY IN SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA.—The terms ‘eligible country in
sub-Saharan Africa’ and ‘eligible coun-
tries in sub-Saharan Africa’ mean a coun-
try or countries that the President has
determined to be eligible under section 4
of the African Growth and Opportunity
Act.’’.
(f) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—The amendments
made by this section take effect on July 1,
1999.
SEC. 9. INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND
DEBT REDUCTION.
(a) 
BETTER
MECHANISMS
TO
FURTHER
GOALS
FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.—It is the
sense of the Congress that the Secretary of
the Treasury should instruct the United
States Executive Directors of the Inter-
national Bank for Reconstruction and Devel-
opment, the International Monetary Fund,
and the African Development Bank to use the
voice and votes of the Executive Directors to
encourage vigorously their respective institu-
tions to develop enhanced mechanisms which
further the following goals in eligible coun-
tries in sub-Saharan Africa:
(1) Strengthening and expanding the
private sector, especially among women-
owned businesses.
(2) Reducing tariffs, nontariff bar-
riers, and other trade obstacles, and in-
creasing economic integration.
(3) Supporting countries committed
to accountable government, economic re-
form, the eradication of poverty, and the
building of civil societies.
(4) Supporting deep debt reduction at
the earliest possible date with the great-
est amount of relief for eligible poorest
countries under the ‘‘Heavily Indebted
Poor Countries’’ (HIPC) debt initiative.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of
the Congress that relief provided to countries
in sub-Saharan Africa which qualify for the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries debt initia-
tive should primarily be made through grants
rather than through extended-term debt, and
that interim relief or interim financing should
be provided for eligible countries that estab-
lish a strong record of macroeconomic reform.
SEC. 10. EXECUTIVE BRANCH INITIATIVES.
(a) STATEMENT
OF CONGRESS.—The Con-
gress recognizes that the stated policy of the
executive branch in 1997, the ‘‘Partnership for
Growth and Opportunity in Africa’’ initiative,
is a step toward the establishment of a com-
prehensive trade and development policy for
sub-Saharan Africa. It is the sense of the Con-
gress that this Partnership is a companion to
the policy goals set forth in this Act.
(b) TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO PROMOTE
ECONOMIC REFORMS AND DEVELOPMENT.—In ad-
dition to continuing bilateral and multilateral
economic and development assistance, the
President shall target technical assistance
toward—
(1) developing relationships between
United States firms and firms in sub-Sa-
haran Africa through a variety of busi-
ness associations and networks;
(2) providing assistance to the gov-
ernments of sub-Saharan African coun-
tries to—
(A) liberalize trade and promote
exports;
(B) bring their legal regimes into
compliance with the standards of the
World Trade Organization in conjunc-
tion with membership in that Organi-
zation;
(C) make financial and fiscal re-
forms; and
(D) promote greater agribusiness
linkages;
(3) addressing such critical agricul-
tural policy issues as market liberaliza-
tion, agricultural export development,
and agribusiness investment in proc-
essing and transporting agricultural com-
modities;
(4) increasing the number of reverse
trade missions to growth-oriented coun-
tries in sub-Saharan Africa;
(5) increasing trade in services; and
(6) encouraging greater sub-Saharan
participation in future negotiations in
the World Trade Organization on services
and making further commitments in their
schedules to the General Agreement on
Trade in Services in order to encourage
the removal of tariff and nontariff bar-
riers.
SEC. 11. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.
(a) INITIATION OF FUNDS.—It is the sense of
the Congress that the Overseas Private In-
vestment Corporation should exercise the au-
thorities it has to initiate an equity fund or
equity funds in support of projects in the
countries in sub-Saharan Africa, in addition
to the existing equity fund for sub-Saharan
Africa created by the Corporation.
(b) STRUCTURE AND TYPES OF FUNDS.—
(1) STRUCTURE.—Each fund initiated
under subsection (a) should be structured
as a partnership managed by professional
private sector fund managers and mon-
itored on a continuing basis by the Cor-
poration.
(2) 
CAPITALIZATION.—Each 
fund
should be capitalized with a combination
of private equity capital, which is not
guaranteed by the Corporation, and debt
for which the Corporation provides guar-
anties.
(3) INFRASTRUCTURE
FUND.—One or
more of the funds, with combined assets
of up to $500,000,000, should be used in
support of infrastructure projects in
countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
(4) EMPHASIS.—The Corporation shall
ensure that the funds are used to provide
support in particular to women entre-
preneurs and to innovative investments
that expand opportunities for women and
maximize employment opportunities for
poor individuals.
SEC. 12. OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
AND EXPORT-IMPORT BANK INITIATIVES.
(a) OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT COR-
PORATION.—
(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—Section 233
of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 is
amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(e) ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.—The Board
shall take prompt measures to increase the
loan, guarantee, and insurance programs, and
financial commitments, of the Corporation in
sub-Saharan Africa, including through the
use of an advisory committee to assist the
Board in developing and implementing poli-
cies, programs, and financial instruments
with respect to sub-Saharan Africa. In addi-
tion, the advisory committee shall make rec-
ommendations to the Board on how the Cor-
poration can facilitate greater support by the
United States for trade and investment with
and in sub-Saharan Africa. The advisory com-
mittee shall terminate 4 years after the date
of the enactment of this subsection.’’.
(2) REPORTS TO THE CONGRESS.—Within
6 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act, and annually for each of the
4 years thereafter, the Board of Directors
of the Overseas Private Investment Cor-
poration shall submit to the Congress a
report on the steps that the Board has
taken to implement section 233(e) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (as added
by paragraph (1)) and any recommenda-
tions of the advisory board established
pursuant to such section.
(b) EXPORT-IMPORT BANK.—
(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR SUB-SAHA-
RAN AFRICA.—Section 2(b) of the Export-
Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 635(b))
is amended by inserting after paragraph
(12) the following:
‘‘(13)(A) The Board of Directors of the
Bank shall take prompt measures, consistent
with the credit standards otherwise required
by law, to promote the expansion of the
Bank’s financial commitments in sub-Saharan
Africa under the loan, guarantee, and insur-
ance programs of the Bank.
‘‘(B)(i) The Board of Directors shall estab-
lish and use an advisory committee to advise
the Board of Directors on the development
and implementation of policies and programs
designed to support the expansion described
in subparagraph (A).
‘‘(ii) The advisory committee shall make
recommendations to the Board of Directors
on how the Bank can facilitate greater sup-
port by United States commercial banks for
trade with sub-Saharan Africa.
‘‘(iii) The advisory committee shall termi-
nate 4 years after the date of the enactment
of this subparagraph.’’.
(2) REPORTS TO THE CONGRESS.—Within
6 months after the date of the enactment
of this Act, and annually for each of the
4 years thereafter, the Board of Directors
of the Export-Import Bank of the United
States shall submit to the Congress a re-
port on the steps that the Board has
taken to implement section 2(b)(13)(B) of
the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (as
added by paragraph (1)) and any rec-
ommendations of the advisory committee
established pursuant to such section.
SEC. 13. ASSISTANT UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTA-
TIVE FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of
the Congress that the position of Assistant
United States Trade Representative for Afri-
can Affairs is integral to the United States
commitment to increasing United States—
sub-Saharan African trade and investment.
(b) MAINTENANCE OF POSITION.—The Presi-
dent shall maintain a position of Assistant
United States Trade Representative for Afri-
can Affairs within the Office of the United
States Trade Representative to direct and co-
ordinate interagency activities on United
States-Africa trade policy and investment
matters and serve as—
(1) a primary point of contact in the
executive branch for those persons en-
gaged in trade between the United States
and sub-Saharan Africa; and
(2) the chief advisor to the United
States Trade Representative on issues of
trade with Africa.
(c) FUNDING
AND STAFF.—The President
shall ensure that the Assistant United States
Trade Representative for African Affairs has
adequate funding and staff to carry out the
duties described in subsection (b), subject to
the availability of appropriations.
SEC. 14. EXPANSION OF THE UNITED STATES AND FOREIGN
COMMERCIAL 
SERVICE 
IN 
SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the
following findings:
(1) The United States and Foreign
Commercial Service (hereafter in this
section referred to as the ‘‘Commercial
Service’’) plays an important role in help-
ing United States businesses identify ex-
port opportunities and develop reliable
sources of information on commercial
prospects in foreign countries.
(2) During the 1980s, the presence of
the Commercial Service in sub-Saharan
Africa consisted of 14 professionals pro-
viding services in eight countries. By
early 1997, that presence had been re-
duced by half to seven, in only four coun-
tries.
(3) Since 1997, the Department of
Commerce has slowly begun to increase
the presence of the Commercial Service
in sub-Saharan Africa, adding five full-
time officers to established posts.
(4) Although the Commercial Service
Officers in these countries have regional
responsibilities, this kind of coverage
does not adequately service the needs of
United States businesses attempting to
do business in sub-Saharan Africa.
(5) The Congress has, on several occa-
sions, encouraged the Commercial Serv-
ice to focus its resources and efforts in
countries or regions in Europe or Asia to
promote greater United States export ac-
tivity in those markets.
(6) Because market information is not
widely available in many sub-Saharan Af-
rican countries, the presence of addi-
tional Commercial Service Officers and
resources can play a significant role in
assisting United States businesses in mar-
kets in those countries.
(b) APPOINTMENTS.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, by not later than
December 31, 2000, the Secretary of Com-
merce, acting through the Assistant Secretary
of Commerce and Director General of the
United States and Foreign Commercial Serv-
ice, shall take steps to ensure that—
(1) at least 20 full-time Commercial
Service employees are stationed in sub-
Saharan Africa; and
(2) full-time Commercial Service em-
ployees are stationed in not less than ten
different sub-Saharan African countries.
(c) COMMERCIAL SERVICE INITIATIVE
FOR
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.—In order to encourage
the export of United States goods and services
to sub-Saharan African countries, the Com-
mercial Service shall make a special effort
to—
(1) identify United States goods and
services which are not being exported to
sub-Saharan African countries but which
are being exported to those countries by
competitor nations;
(2) identify, where appropriate, trade
barriers and noncompetitive actions, in-
cluding violations of intellectual property
rights, that are preventing or hindering
sales of United States goods and services
to, or the operation of United States com-
panies in, sub-Saharan Africa;
(3) present, periodically, a list of the
goods and services identified under para-
graph (1), and any trade barriers or non-
competitive 
actions 
identified 
under
paragraph (2), to appropriate authorities
in sub-Saharan African countries with a
view to securing increased market access
for United States exporters of goods and
services;
(4) facilitate the entrance by United
States businesses into the markets identi-
fied under paragraphs (1) and (2); and
(5) monitor and evaluate the results
of efforts to increase the sales of goods
and services in such markets.
(d) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than
one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, and each year thereafter for five
years, the Secretary of Commerce, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of State, shall re-
port to the Congress on actions taken to carry
out subsections (b) and (c). Each report shall
specify—
(1) in what countries full-time Com-
mercial Service Officers are stationed,
and the number of such officers placed in
each such country;
(2) the effectiveness of the presence
of the additional Commercial Service Of-
ficers in increasing United States exports
to sub-Saharan African countries; and
(3) the specific actions taken by Com-
mercial Service Officers, both in sub-Sa-
haran African countries and in the
United States, to carry out subsection (c),
including identifying a list of targeted ex-
port sectors and countries.
SEC. 15. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
The President shall submit to the Con-
gress, not later than 1 year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and not later than
the end of each of the next 6 1-year periods
thereafter, a comprehensive report on the
trade and investment policy of the United
States for sub-Saharan Africa, and on the im-
plementation of this Act. The last report re-
quired by section 134(b) of the Uruguay
Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3554(b))
shall be consolidated and submitted with the
first report required by this section.
SEC. 16. DONATION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT
TO ELIGIBLE SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUN-
TRIES.
It is the sense of the Congress that, to the
extent appropriate, the United States Govern-
ment should make every effort to donate to
governments of sub-Saharan African coun-
tries (determined to be eligible under section
4 of this Act) air traffic control equipment
that is no longer in use, including appropriate
related reimbursable technical assistance.
SEC. 17. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA DEFINED.
For purposes of this Act, the terms ‘‘sub-
Saharan Africa’’, ‘‘sub-Saharan African coun-
try’’, ‘‘country in sub-Saharan Africa’’, and
‘‘countries in sub-Saharan Africa’’ refer to the
following or any successor political entities:
Republic of Angola (Angola)
Republic of Botswana (Botswana)
Republic of Burundi (Burundi)
Republic of Cape Verde (Cape Verde)
Republic of Chad (Chad)
Democratic Republic of Congo
Republic of the Congo (Congo)
Republic of Djibouti (Djibouti)
State of Eritrea (Eritrea)
Gabonese Republic (Gabon)
Republic of Ghana (Ghana)
Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Guinea-
Bissau)
Kingdom of Lesotho (Lesotho)
Republic of Madagascar (Madagascar)
Republic of Mali (Mali)
Republic of Mauritius (Mauritius)
Republic of Namibia (Namibia)
Federal Republic of Nigeria (Nigeria)
Democratic Republic of Sao Tome´
and Principe (Sao Tome´ and Principe)
Republic of Sierra Leone (Sierra
Leone)
Somalia
Kingdom of Swaziland (Swaziland)
Republic of Togo (Togo)
Republic of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)
Republic of Benin (Benin)
Burkina Faso (Burkina)
Republic of Cameroon (Cameroon)
Central African Republic