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Several AGOA beneficiary countries have barriers to their markets for U.S. goods and services, including Angola, Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya. Two of the most recalcitrant nations with regard to U.S. pork imports are Nigeria and South Africa.
Despite being the second-largest AGOA beneficiary, Nigeria has continued to block market access for U.S. pork. While in 2022 it began allowing pork sausage imports from the United States, Nigeria has maintained an express prohibition against the importation of raw pork, as well as other meats and associated products. Its restrictions are not science based and violate provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
South Africa is the largest non-oil beneficiary of AGOA but has several unwarranted, non-scientific provisions that limit imports of U.S. pork. The country bans pork offal and restricts pork because of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, for example, even though there is no documented scientific case of PRRS being transmitted to domestic livestock through imported pork.
NPPC supports withholding AGOA benefits from countries that have barriers to U.S. goods and services. It also supports removing Nigeria and South Africa from the AGOA program until such time as they allow full market access for U.S. pork.
The objectives of AGOA are to expand U.S. trade and investment with sub-Saharan Africa, stimulate economic growth in the region, and facilitate African nations’ integration into the global economy. In many AGOA countries, pork is an important source of protein, making them potentially significant markets for U.S. pork.