Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that creates a new trade and investment policy for 48 Sub-Saharan African countries.

Highlights:

• Bases eligibility for Sub-Saharan trade benefits on the country's progress toward creating a market-based economy, a country's human rights record, and the country's efforts to eliminate slavery, among other factors.

• Establishes United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Free Trade Area.

• Creates a United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum.

• Encourages the Overseas Private Investment Corporation to initiate equity funds in Sub-Saharan African countries.

• Allows the President to provide duty-free treatment for some products from eligible countries.

• Eliminates existing quotas on textiles and apparel exports to the United States from Kenya and Mauritius.

• Increases punishment for exporters that engage in illegal transshipment of goods.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text