[House Document 118-74]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




118th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 118-74

 
  NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO TERMINATE THE DESIGNATION OF THE CENTRAL 
  AFRICAN REPUBLIC, THE GABONESE REPUBLIC, NIGER, AND THE REPUBLIC OF 
 UGANDA AS BENEFICIARY SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES UNDER THE AFRICAN 
                       GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                     THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

 A NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO TERMINATE THE DESIGNATION OF THE CENTRAL 
  AFRICAN REPUBLIC, THE GABONESE REPUBLIC, NIGER, AND THE REPUBLIC OF 
 UGANDA AS BENEFICIARY SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES UNDER THE AFRICAN 
   GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT, PURSUANT TO 19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)(B); 
 PUBLIC LAW 93-618, SEC. 506A(a)(3)(B) (AS ADDED BY PUBLIC LAW 114-27, 
                    SEC. 105(a)(2)); (129 STAT. 365)




  November 1, 2023.--Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, October 30, 2023.
Hon. Mike Johnson,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: In accordance with section 506A(a)(3)(B) 
of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 
2466a(a)(3)(B)), I am providing advance notification of my 
intent to terminate the designation of the Central African 
Republic, the Gabonese Republic (Gabon), Niger, and the 
Republic of Uganda (Uganda) as beneficiary sub-Saharan African 
countries under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
    I am taking this step because I have determined that the 
Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda do not meet 
the eligibility requirements of section 104 of the AGOA. 
Specifically, the Government of the Central African Republic 
has engaged in gross violations of internationally recognized 
human rights and has not established, or is not making 
continual progress toward establishing, the protection of 
internationally recognized worker rights, the rule of law, and 
political pluralism. Niger and the Government of Gabon have not 
established, or are not making continual progress toward 
establishing, the protection of political pluralism and the 
rule of law. Finally, the Government of Uganda has engaged in 
gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.
    Despite intensive engagement between the United States and 
the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda, these 
countries have failed to address United States concerns about 
their non-compliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria.
    Accordingly, I intend to terminate the designation of these 
countries as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries under 
the AGOA, effective January 1, 2024. I will continue to assess 
whether the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda 
meet the AGOA eligibility requirements.
            Sincerely,
                                               Joseph R. Biden, Jr.