US engagement with Africa

Mardi 19 Juin 2012

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the cornerstone of the U.S. trade and economic relationship with sub-Saharan Africa, has seen an impressive growth in trade between the United States and for its African partners.
US engagement with Africa
 Since  AGOA was past by  the US Congress in  2000, there has been a 300 percent increase in  total US- African trade. It was signed into law by then-President Bill Clinton i n 2000, to encourage  U.S. trade  investment ties with sub-Saharan Africa. It provides trade preferences to the 40 participating African countries through the removal of nearly all tariffs on exports.

It has successfully broken down many trade and customs barriers in an effort to stimulate economic growth, encourage economic integration and help bring sub-Saharan Africa into the global economy. The US is actively
searching for growth markets to combat the effects of the global financial crisis and the economic slowdown on its economy. It is also facing the challenge from China and Africa will see increased competition for trade from both these economic giants. 

President Barack Obama has given a major impetus to America's economic partnership with Africa citing it as a growth market forthe futureand an important trading partner for the United States." It is clear that Africa is more important than ever to the security and prosperity of the international community, and to the United States in particular. Africa’s economies are among the fastest growing in the world, with technological change sweeping across the continent and offering tremendous opportunities in banking, medicine, politics, and business."

It is the sign of a major policy initiative using "soft power " to support  an active engagement with Africa to ensure increased market share and better relations with African countries.  President Obama is facing election on 6 November 2012, One might ask why this emphasis on Africa did not come earlier but the global crisis and many other issues have claimed America's attention.

 A Washington Post article points out that General Carter F. Ham, of U.S. Africa Command (Africom ) told the US  Congress in March. Without divulging locations, he made clear that, in Africa, he wanted to expand “ISR,”  which stands for intellegence surveillance and reconnaissance, in Africa to adequately address the security challenges in the continent". Al Qaeda is one of the major challenges.

The days of  fielding large military operations are clearly over but  the use of drones  armed with missiles in  some situatrions is not ruled out by an official quoted in the article. They are currently in use in Yemen.

The Obama administration has significantly increased the use of special forces in global operations.



Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/US-engagement-w...

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