[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 3 (Monday, January 24, 2000)]
[Page 131]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on the 
Comprehensive Trade and Development Policy for Africa

January 21, 2000

Dear __________:

    I am pleased to submit the fifth annual report on the 
Administration's Comprehensive Trade and Development Policy for Africa, 
as required by section 134 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. The past 
year has seen the broadening and deepening of our economic relations 
with Sub-Saharan Africa as we pursue common objectives under the 
Partnership for Economic Growth and Opportunity in Africa and set a 
course for the 21st century.
    For the first time in history, U.S.-Africa Ministerial meeting was 
held in Washington in March 1999. The event was attended by 83 ministers 
from 46 Sub-Saharan countries, as well as representatives from 4 north 
African nations, the heads of 8 African regional organizations, and 8 
members of my Cabinet and 4 agency heads. The Ministerial resulted in 
the Blueprint for a U.S.-Africa Partnership for the 21st Century, a 
document setting forth common perspectives and plans for U.S.-Africa 
cooperation on a series of important issues, including the integration 
of African states into the global economy, regional integration, 
development assistance, sector issues including investment, debt, and 
agriculture, and the broader issues of human resource development, HIV/
AIDS, transnational threats, and conflict resolution. We will continue 
to build on this blueprint in the coming year.
    The legislative cornerstone of our Africa trade policy is the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act. I am pleased that this legislation 
has been approved by both chambers of Congress, and I look forward to 
final approval by the Congress of this historic legislation early this 
year.
    The African Growth and Opportunity Act will add further impetus to 
our Nation's bipartisan efforts to enhance economic growth and 
strengthen U.S. trade with and investment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
    My Administration continues to be guided by the conviction that 
economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa will benefit both Africans 
and Americans. As highlighted in the attached report, the United States 
has made significant progress in supporting sustainable growth and 
expanded trade in Africa through a series of successful initiatives, 
focused on increased economic engagement, enhanced market access, 
technical assistance in implementing economic reforms, trade missions, 
development assistance, debt relief, and support for the region's 
integration into the multilateral trading system.
    My Administration will continue working with the Congress, the 
private sector, the countries of Africa, and our other trading partners 
to implement the policies and programs contained in this report. We have 
charted the course and look forward to an even stronger, mutually 
beneficial U.S. partnership with the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa in 
the 21st century.
    Sincerely,
                                            William J. Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to Jesse Helms, chairman, and Joseph 
R. Biden, Jr., ranking member, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; 
Benjamin A. Gilman, chairman, and Sam 
Gejdenson, ranking member, House Committee on International Relations; 
William V. Roth, Jr., chairman and Daniel Patrick Moynihan, ranking 
member, Senate Committee on Finance; and Bill Archer, chairman, and 
Charles B. Rangel, ranking member, House Committee on Ways and Means.