Agoa hopefuls fall far short of their quotas

Disputes over interpretation of certain provisions THE AFRICA Growth and Opportunities Act (Agoa), which provides duty-free status to clothing and textiles imported from selected African countries to the US subject to a tariff rate quota, has started slowly with only 17% of quota levels filled in 2000/1. ThatÕs according to a report issued by Washington-based lobby group African Coalition for Trade which expects this figure to increase to around 50% in the current operating year. Lesotho has moved into the lead, having taken up 12.04% of its annual quota, followed by Madagascar (5.07%) and Kenya (3.43%). South Africa had taken up only 1.52% of its annual quota in the first quarter of the current trading year. Four countries together accounted for 84% of total US clothing and textile imports from Africa in January and February, says the report. They were Lesotho (28.3%), South Africa (23.3%), Mauritius (15.9%) and Madagascar (15.2%) Disputes, however, have arisen with US customs over interpretation of some Agoa provisions, mainly in the granting of duty free access to clothing made from yarns in short supply in the US. An example was shirts made from cotton in short supply in the US and imported by Mauritius from a third country. The shirts were initially allowed in but were later denied duty free access by US customs.