[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1900 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

  1st Session
                                S. 1900

To amend the African Growth and Opportunity Act to expand certain trade 
   benefits to eligible sub-Saharan African countries, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 20, 2003

   Mr. Lugar introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
                  referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the African Growth and Opportunity Act to expand certain trade 
   benefits to eligible sub-Saharan African countries, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``United States-Africa Partnership Act 
of 2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the African Growth and Opportunity Act (in this section 
        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 sub-Saharan 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 core labor standards in eligible sub-Saharan 
        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; and
            (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.

                        TITLE I--TRADE BENEFITS

SEC. 101. ENHANCED BENEFITS UNDER GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES.

    (a) Removal of Import Sensitivity Requirement.--Section 506A(b)(1) 
of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466a(b)(1)) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(1) In general.--The President shall provide duty-free 
        treatment for any article described in section 503(b)(1)(B) 
        through (G) that is the growth, product, or manufacture of a 
        beneficiary sub-Saharan African country described in subsection 
        (a).''.
    (b) Termination Date.--Section 506B of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 
U.S.C. 2466b) is amended by striking ``2008'' and inserting ``2015''.

SEC. 102. APPAREL TRADE BENEFITS.

    (a) Products Covered.--Section 112(b) of the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3721(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraphs (1) through (3) and inserting 
        the following:
            ``(1) Apparel articles assembled in beneficiary sub-saharan 
        african countries.--Apparel articles sewn or otherwise 
        assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
        countries for which classification under the Harmonized Tariff 
        Schedule of the United States is determined by a component 
        which is--
                    ``(A) formed from fabrics formed and cut in the 
                United States, from yarns formed in the United States 
                (including fabrics not formed from yarns, if such 
                fabrics are classifiable under heading 5602 or 5603 of 
                the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and 
                are formed and cut in the United States);
                    ``(B) knit-to-shape in the United States from yarns 
                formed in the United States;
                    ``(C) formed from fabrics formed in the United 
                States, from yarns formed in the United States 
                (including fabrics not formed from yarns, if such 
                fabrics are classifiable under heading 5602 or 5603 of 
                the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and 
                are formed in the United States) and cut in one or more 
beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries;
                    ``(D) formed from fabrics formed in one or more 
                beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from yarns 
                originating either in the United States or in one or 
                more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries 
                (including fabrics not formed from yarns, if such 
                fabrics are classifiable under heading 5602 or 5603 of 
                the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and 
                are formed and cut in one or more beneficiary sub-
                Saharan African countries), without regard to where the 
                fabric is cut;
                    ``(E) knit-to-shape in one or more beneficiary sub-
                Saharan African countries from yarns originating either 
                in the United States or one or more beneficiary sub-
                Saharan African countries; or
                    ``(F)(i) cut in the United States and one or more 
                beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from fabric 
                formed in the United States from yarns formed in the 
                United States;
                    ``(ii) knit-to-shape in the United States and one 
                or more beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries from 
                yarns formed in the United States; or
                    ``(iii) both cut as described in clause (i) and 
                knit-to-shape as described in clause (ii) (including 
                from fabrics not formed from yarns, if such fabrics are 
                classifiable under heading 5602 or 5603 of the 
                Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States).
            ``(2) Apparel articles from nonoriginating fabric or 
        yarn.--Apparel articles that are both cut (or knit-to-shape) 
        and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more beneficiary sub-
        Saharan African countries--
                    ``(A) from fabric or yarn which need not be 
                originating under General Note 12(t) of the Harmonized 
                Tariff Schedule of the United States for the apparel 
                article to qualify as originating under that Note; or
                    ``(B) from fabric or yarn which is not commercially 
                available and which the President proclaims as eligible 
                for use under this paragraph without regard to where 
                the fabric or yarn is formed pursuant to the procedures 
                set forth in paragraph (5).
            ``(3) Special rule for lesser developed countries.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Preferential treatment under 
                paragraphs (1)(D) and (1)(E) shall be extended through 
                September 30, 2008, for apparel articles assembled in 
                one or more lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan 
                African countries regardless of the country of origin 
                of the yarn or fabric used to make such apparel 
                articles.
                    ``(B) Lesser developed beneficiary sub-saharan 
                african country.--For purposes of this paragraph, 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 a year in 1998, as 
                        measured by the International Bank for 
                        Reconstruction and Development;
                            ``(ii) Botswana; and
                            ``(iii) Namibia.'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
            ``(5) Procedures for designating fabrics or yarns eligible 
        under paragraph (2)(b).--At the request of any interested party 
        and subject to the following requirements, the President is 
        authorized to proclaim fabrics or yarns as not commercially 
        available and thus eligible for use in the production of cut 
        components or knit-to-shape components described in paragraph 
        (2)(B) if--
                    ``(A) the President determines that such yarns or 
                fabrics cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in 
                commercial quantities in a timely manner;
                    ``(B) the President has obtained advice regarding 
                the proposed action from the appropriate advisory 
                committee established under section 2155 of this title 
                and the United States International Trade Commission;
                    ``(C) within 60 calendar days after the request, 
                the President has submitted a report to the Committee 
                on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and 
                the Committee on Finance of the Senate that sets 
                forth--
                            ``(i) the action proposed to be proclaimed 
                        and the reasons for such action; and
                            ``(ii) the advice obtained under 
                        subparagraph (B);
                    ``(D) a period of 60 calendar days, beginning with 
                the first day on which the President has met the 
                requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph 
                (C), has expired; and
                    ``(E) the President has consulted with such 
                committees regarding the proposed action during the 
                period referred to in subparagraph (C).'';
            (3) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following:
            ``(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 
                sub-Saharan 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 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 the heading 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--
                                    ``(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 wholly formed in the United 
                        States, from yarns wholly formed in the United 
                        States, or from fabric wholly 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 country.''; and
            (4) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
            ``(7) Surge mechanism.--
                    ``(A) Import monitoring.--The Secretary of Commerce 
                shall monitor imports of articles to which this 
                paragraph applies on a monthly basis to determine if 
                there has been a surge in imports of such articles. In 
                order to permit public access to preliminary 
                international trade data and to facilitate the early 
                identification of potentially disruptive import surges, 
                the Director of the Office of Management and Budget may 
                grant an exception to the publication dates established 
                for the release of data on United States international 
                trade in covered articles, if the Director notifies 
                Congress of the early release of the data.
                    ``(B) Determination of damage or threat thereof.--
                Whenever the Secretary of Commerce determines, based on 
                the data described in subparagraph (A), or pursuant to 
                a written request made by an interested party, that 
                there has been a surge in imports of an article to 
                which this paragraph applies from a beneficiary sub-
                Saharan African country, the Secretary shall determine 
                whether such article from such country is being 
                imported in such increased quantities as to cause 
                serious damage, or threat thereof, to the domestic 
                industry producing a like or directly competitive 
                article. If the Secretary's determination is 
                affirmative, the President shall suspend the duty-free 
                treatment provided for such article under this 
                paragraph. If the inquiry is initiated at the request 
                of an interested party, the Secretary shall make the 
                determination within 60 days after the date of the 
                request.
                    ``(C) Factors to consider.--In determining whether 
                a domestic industry has been seriously damaged, or is 
                threatened with serious damage, the Secretary shall 
                examine the effect of the imports on relevant economic 
                indicators such as domestic production, sales, market 
                share, capacity utilization, inventories, employment, 
                profits, exports, prices, and investment.
                    ``(D) Procedure.--
                            ``(i) Initiation.--The Secretary of 
                        Commerce shall initiate an inquiry within 10 
                        days after receiving a written request and 
                        supporting information for an inquiry from an 
                        interested party. Notice of initiation of an 
                        inquiry shall be published in the Federal 
                        Register.
                            ``(ii) Participation by interested 
                        parties.--The Secretary of Commerce shall 
                        establish procedures to ensure participation in 
                        the inquiry by interested parties.
                            ``(iii) Notice of determination.--The 
                        Secretary shall publish the determination 
                        described in subparagraph (B) in the Federal 
                        Register.
                            ``(iv) Information available.--If relevant 
                        information is not available on the record or 
                        any party withholds information that has been 
                        requested by the Secretary, the Secretary shall 
                        make the determination on the basis of the 
                        facts available. When the Secretary relies on 
                        information submitted in the inquiry as facts 
                        available, the Secretary shall, to the extent 
                        practicable, corroborate the information from 
                        independent sources that are reasonably 
                        available to the Secretary.
                            ``(v) Interested party.--For purposes of 
                        this subparagraph, the term `interested party' 
                        means any producer of a like or directly 
                        competitive article, a certified union or 
                        recognized union or group of workers which is 
                        representative of an industry engaged in the 
                        manufacture, production, or sale in the United 
                        States of a like or directly competitive 
                        article, a trade or business association 
                        representing producers or sellers of like or 
                        directly competitive articles, producers 
                        engaged in the production of essential inputs 
                        for like or directly competitive articles, a 
                        certified union or group of workers which is 
                        representative of an industry engaged in the 
                        manufacture, production, or sale of essential 
                        inputs for the like or directly competitive 
                        article, or a trade or business association 
                        representing companies engaged in the 
                        manufacture, production, or sale of such 
                        essential inputs.''.
    (b) Findings and Trimmings.--Section 112 of the African Grown and 
Opportunity Act is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (d) and redesignating 
        subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (d) and (e), 
        respectively; and
            (2) in subsection (e), as redesignated, by striking 
        ``2008'' and inserting ``2015''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3108 of the Trade Act of 2002 
(Public Law 107-210; 116 Stat. 1038) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(a) In General.--''; and
            (2) by striking subsection (b).

                TITLE II--ENHANCING TRADE IN AGRICULTURE

SEC. 201. AGRICULTURAL TRADE ASSISTANCE.

    Section 130 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 
3740) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Comprehensive Plan.--The Secretary of Agriculture, based on 
results of the study described in subsection (a), shall develop a 
comprehensive plan to implement public sector policies and incentives 
for the private sector to--
            ``(1) identify current United States agricultural imports 
        with the potential for competitive production for export in 
        sub-Saharan Africa;
            ``(2) identify current agricultural exports from sub-
        Saharan Africa;
            ``(3) identify the primary agricultural export products 
        under this Act;
            ``(4) analyze critical constraints to United States-Africa 
        agricultural trade;
            ``(5) identify potential value-added and processed 
        agricultural products that can be exported from sub-Saharan 
        Africa to the United States under this Act;
            ``(6) analyze critical constraints to producing and 
        exporting to the United States such value-added and processed 
        agricultural products;
            ``(7) develop a strategy, with African national public and 
        private sectors, and regional organizations, for removing or 
        ameliorating the critical constraints identified;
            ``(8) develop a strategy for increasing investments to 
        diversify and add value to agricultural exports under this Act; 
        and
            ``(9) develop a strategy for increasing the tradable volume 
        of agricultural exports from eligible sub-Saharan African 
        countries.
    ``(d) Report.--The results of the study and details of the 
comprehensive plan shall be reported in the annual United States Trade 
Representative African Growth and Opportunity Act Report.''.

SEC. 202. EXECUTIVE BRANCH INITIATIVES.

    Section 122(b)(3) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 
U.S.C. 3732(b)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(3) addressing critical agricultural policy issues, in 
        part, by developing a comprehensive plan, which shall be 
        submitted to the Congress, to--
                    ``(A) increase market liberalization;
                    ``(B) develop agricultural exports;
                    ``(C) increase investment in processing and 
                transporting commodities;
                    ``(D) develop and increase capacity by working with 
                farmers and farmer groups;
                    ``(E) increase access to vital market information, 
                including prices, product quality and demand, inputs 
                quality and costs, and customs rules and regulations, 
                for farmers and farmer groups and cooperatives and for 
                relevant government ministries; and
                    ``(F) enable public-private partnerships in 
                eligible sub-Saharan African countries to promote trade 
                in agricultural products between the United States and 
                eligible sub-Saharan African countries.''.

SEC. 203. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Evaluation.--The President and the Secretary of Agriculture 
shall direct the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to 
evaluate methods for training African agricultural producers and for 
implementing capacity building programs to help the producers meet 
United States food safety standards.
    (b) APHIS Personnel.--The President shall designate 20 full-time 
personnel of APHIS for technical assistance.
            (1) Countries of designation.--Such personnel shall be 
        designated to at least 10 African Growth and Opportunity Act 
        eligible countries identified by the President, after 
        consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and the APHIS 
        Administrator, as having the greatest potential to increase 
        marketable exports of agricultural products to the United 
        States and the greatest need for technical assistance.
            (2) Assistance to be provided.--Such Personnel shall 
        provide technical training and capacity building in meeting 
        phytosanitary standards in planting, cultivating, harvesting, 
        and processing agricultural products for export, with 
        particular attention to institutions serving smallholder 
        producers, small-scale rural businesses and cooperatives; and 
        strengthened agricultural research and extension capacity to 
        disseminate relevant information on pests and diseases to 
        African smallholder farmers, as well as cost-efficient and 
        environmentally sound solutions.

            TITLE III--INCREASING CERTAINTIES IN INVESTMENT

SEC. 301. DESIGNATION OF ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES.

    Section 104 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act is amended by 
striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Continuing Compliance.--If the President determines that an 
eligible sub-Saharan African country no longer meets the criteria set 
forth in subsection (a), including by failing to maintain the 
institutions described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) of subsection 
(a)(1), the President may terminate the designation of the country made 
pursuant to subsection (a) if--
            ``(1) the President transmits to the Congress notice of the 
        proposed designation; and
            ``(2) the Congress, within 90 days after receiving such 
        notice, does not enact a law prohibiting such termination.''.

SEC. 302. OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION.

    (a) OPIC Initiatives.--Section 123(b)(4) of the African Growth and 
Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 3733(b)(4)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(4) Emphasis.--The Corporation shall ensure that the 
        funds are used to provide support in particular to women 
        entrepreneurs and to innovative investments that expand 
        opportunities for women and maximize employment opportunities 
        for poor individuals, in part by including a focus on 
        investments in agribusiness, electronics, textiles, and 
        apparel.''.
    (b) Exception to Restrictions on OPIC Activities.--Section 231 of 
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2191) is amended by 
adding at the end the following flush sentence: ``The prohibitions set 
forth in subsections (k)(1) and (l), and the requirement set forth in 
subsection (k)(2), shall not apply to any contract of insurance or 
reinsurance, guaranty, or agreement to provide financing for an 
eligible investor's proposed investment if the investment is in country 
designated as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country under section 
506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1)).''.
    (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the Overseas Private Investment Corporation should be 
        commended for creating the African Millennium Fund, which will 
        encourage vital investments in the infrastructure of eligible 
        sub-Saharan African countries; and
            (2) it is critically important that the Fund be fully 
        subscribed and disbursing funds as soon as possible.

SEC. 303. EXPORT-IMPORT BANK.

    Section 2(b)(1)(B) of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 (12 U.S.C. 
635(b)(1)(B) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(i)'' after ``(B)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(ii) The Bank shall implement such regulations and procedures as 
may be appropriate to ensure that full consideration is given to the 
extent to which any loan, guarantee, insurance, extension of credit, or 
participation in an extension of credit is likely to have a positive 
effect on industries, including the textile and apparel industry and 
agricultural production, in countries designated as beneficiary sub-
Saharan African countries under section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1)). To carry out the purposes of this clause, 
the Bank shall work with the Administrator of the United States Agency 
for International Development, the United States Trade Representative, 
and the Secretary of Commerce in identifying opportunities to use the 
resources of the Bank to encourage industrial and agricultural 
development in such beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries.''.

SEC. 304. THE FOREIGN AGRICULTURE SERVICE.

    The Secretary of Agriculture shall direct the Foreign Agriculture 
Service (FAS) to work with national African agricultural organizations 
to identify agricultural equipment and supply needs and implement 
programs that strengthen the ability of members of African agricultural 
organizations to fulfill these needs in conjunction with export credit 
guarantee programs.

SEC. 305. TAX POLICY.

    (a) Sense of the Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that 
the United States Agency for International Development, in cooperation 
with the United States Department of the Treasury, the International 
Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and 
Development, and the African Development Bank, should exercise the 
authorities it has to continue to provide technical assistance to 
eligible sub-Saharan African countries in the tax policy and revenue 
administration.
    (b) Double Taxation Treaties With Eligible Sub-Saharan African 
Countries.--In order to encourage investment in and certainty in the 
movement of capital, the Secretary of the Treasury shall seek 
negotiations with those eligible sub-Saharan African countries which 
the Secretary determines will benefit most from an income tax treaty 
with the United States.

SEC. 306. DEVELOPMENT STUDY AND CAPACITY BUILDING.

    (a) Reports.--The Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development 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.

              TITLE IV--TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

SEC. 401. ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF 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.
            (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.--The President shall develop and 
implement policies to encourage, and assist with, investment in 
eligible sub-Saharan African countries in the following:
            (1) Infrastructure projects that support, in particular, 
        development of land transport, road, railroad networks, river 
        networks, and ports, and the continued upgrading and 
        liberalization of the energy and telecommunications sectors.
            (2) Increased coordination between various transportation 
        sectors in the United States and such countries to reduce 
        transit times and freight costs.
            (3) 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.
            (4) Increased coordination between chambers of commerce, 
        businesses, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and others 
        involved in consolidating and moving freight.
            (5) Joint negotiations between shipping companies and 
        transportation officials to increase the frequency and capacity 
        of direct shipping and flights between Africa and America.

SEC. 402. TRANSPORTATION.

    In order to increase trade flows and the efficiency of 
transportation links between eligible sub-Saharan African countries and 
the United States, the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
International Development shall foster port-to-port and airport-to-
airport relationships. These relationships should facilitate--
            (1) increased coordination between ports and airports in 
        the United States and such countries in order to reduce time in 
        transit; and
            (2) interaction between technical staff from ports and 
        airports in the United States and such countries in order to 
        increase efficiency and safety procedures and protocols.

                         TITLE V--CONSULTATIONS

SEC. 501. TASK FORCE.

    The President shall assemble an interagency taskforce composed of 
representatives from the Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, the Department of Commerce, the Department of State, 
the United States Agency for International Development, the Department 
of Treasury, and the Department of Agriculture to facilitate the goals 
and objectives of this Act and 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.

SEC. 502. AGOA FORUMS.

    In order to ensure that nongovernmental organizations and the 
private sector continue to host the annual meetings described in 
section 105(c)(2) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (19 U.S.C. 
3704(c)(2)), the United States Trade Representative is authorized to 
provide grants in each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2015, in equal 
amounts to United States nongovernmental organizations referred to in 
section 105(c)(2) of that Act and to United States representatives of 
the private sector referred to in section 105(c)(2)(B) of that Act, for 
the purpose of hosting such meetings.
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