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Biden prepares to suspend duty-free access to US markets for Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea 

By Julian Pecquet

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Posted on November 2, 2021 17:49

U.S. President Joe Biden
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, November 2, 2021. Paul Ellis/Pool via REUTERS

The Joe Biden administration on Tuesday announced its intention to suspend Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea from the US government’s signature Africa trade program over alleged human rights violations and political repression. 

The three countries will lose their duty-free access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) starting Jan. 1 “absent urgent action” to get back into compliance with the law, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in a statement.

Ethiopia is under fire for its “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights” in its conflict with Tigrayan forces, President Biden said in a message to Congress announcing his “intent to

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