Cameroon will lose its preferred trade status under the United States African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) on January 1, following the U.S. decision to revoke its status because of its human rights record. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed it by a proclamation issued recently. The West African nation will no longer be eligible for benefits under AGOA that affect market access, investment, and reduced or eliminated tariffs on U.S. imports. Other countries currently ineligible for AGOA participation are South Sudan, Eritrea and Democratic Republic of Congo. Imports from sub-Saharan Africa to the U.S. under AGOA amounted to $12 billion in 2018 and accounted for nearly half of total U.S. imports from the region, with Nigeria, South Africa, Angola, Chad and Kenya as the top exporters under the AGOA provisions.
source; africatimes
