[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 56 (Wednesday, April 18, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E579-E580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INCREASING AMERICAN JOBS THROUGH GREATER EXPORTS TO AFRICA ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 18, 2012

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I chaired a hearing 
that examined U.S. policy toward American exports to Africa as a part 
of U.S.-Africa trade. The original African Growth and Opportunity Act, 
or AGOA, was intended to be mutually beneficial for both African and 
American entrepreneurs, but the focus of the three administrations 
since its passage in 2000 has been on increasing African exports to the 
United States and the resultant job growth on the African continent.
  This policy has neglected the job growth here in the United States 
that could be created through increasing U.S. exports to Africa. The 
purpose of the Increasing American Jobs Through Greater Exports to 
Africa Act of 2012, H.R. 4221, which I introduced together with Rep. 
Bobby Rush on March 20th, is to address this important component of 
U.S.-Africa trade by increasing U.S. exports to Africa by 200 percent 
over the next decade. This bill does not replace AGOA; it complements 
it by providing for a rebalancing that makes it beneficial to Americans 
as well as Africans. Senators Dick Durbin and John Boozman have 
introduced an identical version of the bill in the Senate--S. 2215.
  The bill intends to achieve its ambitious, but achievable, goal by 
taking several steps, including the creation of a U.S.-Africa trade 
coordinator to ensure that all U.S. agencies involved in trade work in 
concert with one another. This legislation also calls for not less than 
25% of available U.S. trade financing to be devoted to facilitating 
U.S.-Africa trade. Furthermore, it encourages the descendants of Africa 
in this country, who largely operate small and medium-sized businesses, 
to play a greater role in trade with the countries in Africa.
  Small and medium enterprises in Africa and the United States have not 
benefited from AGOA to the extent that they could have or should have, 
and the bill addresses this deficit. U.S. companies can benefit from an 
expanding African market of businesses and consumers, and increased 
American production will create new, sustainable jobs.
  Some have expressed concern that such an expansion of U.S. exports to 
Africa could flood African markets and damage their economies. However, 
many of these U.S. exports, such as in the agriculture sector, will 
enable African producers to become more efficient and profitable and 
create jobs for their workers as well. In trade, the best situation is 
one of observing the principle of comparative advantage: countries sell 
what they make most efficiently and buy what another country makes most 
efficiently. In this way, both buyer and seller countries benefit from 
trade by meeting each other's needs.
  According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, the United 
States is the world's largest importer of sub-Saharan African goods, 
receiving 20.2% of the region's total global exports. On the other 
hand, during the height of the global recession in 2008 2009, our 
exports to sub-Saharan Africa plummeted by 45% from $78.3 billion to 
$42.8 billion. As of the end of 2011, the United States sold nearly 
$20.3 billion worth of goods to sub-Saharan Africa, while purchasing 
more than $74 billion worth of goods. Consequently, we had a trade 
deficit with the nations of sub-Saharan Africa last year of nearly $54 
billion.
  The African Development Bank estimates that one out of three Africans 
is considered to be in the middle class--that's 314 million Africans 
who have escaped poverty and can now buy consumer goods, including 
those from the United States. In order to reduce our trade deficit with 
the nations of Africa, there is room to engage in trade that increases 
economic opportunity for Africans and Americans. We just haven't taken 
advantage of the opportunities that exist. The United States has over 
the last decade taken many steps to enhance U.S.-Africa trade. African 
governments have taken steps to encourage trans-Atlantic trade as well. 
Still, both sides can do better.
  More exports help the economy grow because they typically boost 
factory production, which can fuel more hiring and lead to greater 
consumer spending. Fewer imports subtract less from growth, largely 
because consumers are spending less on overseas goods and services. 
H.R. 4221 would contribute to job growth in the United States by 
facilitating increased sales to the emerging markets of Africa.
  The rest of the world understands how valuable the nations of Africa 
have become as economic markets. Last month, this subcommittee held a 
hearing on the role of China in Africa that not only pointed out 
China's designs on selling their goods to Africa countries, but also 
illustrated the economic interest in Africa shown by nations as far-
flung as Brazil, Turkey and South Korea. We in the United States must 
join in the more equal two-way trade the rest of the world envisions 
for their commerce with Africa.
  Our witnesses yesterday discussed current administration policy 
toward U.S.-Africa trade, the U.S. business sector view on trade with 
Africa, and examined the realities of doing business in Africa by both 
a current and a prospective enterprise on the continent.

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