U.S. says war in Ethiopia's north could affect trade benefits

A tank damaged during the fighting between Ethiopia's National Defense Force (ENDF) and Tigray Special Forces stands on the outskirts of Humera town in Ethiopia on July 1, 2021. [Reuters]

The ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia's north could affect the country's trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the U.S. Trade Representative's Office said.

The AGOA trade programme provides sub-Saharan African nations duty-free access to the United States on the condition they meet certain eligibility requirements, such as eliminating barriers to U.S. trade and investment and making progress towards political pluralism.

US Trade Representative Katharine Tai met virtually with Ethiopia's Chief Trade Negotiator Mamo Mihretu on Wednesday, USTR said in a statement.

"(Tai) raised the ongoing violations of internationally recognised human rights amid the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in northern Ethiopia, which could affect Ethiopia's future African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) eligibility if unaddressed," the statement read.

Mamo did not immediately respond to a comment request on Thursday.

Ethiopia's foreign affairs ministry spokesperson, Dina Mufti, told reporters at a news conference in Addis Ababa on Thursday: "The issue of AGOA is being presented to intimidate us."

"There is nothing that is being terminated," he added. "It is possible that we will agree on some on issues."

The office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

AGOA, approved in 2000, provides African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for more than 1,800 products with the aim of supporting African economic growth. Ethiopia exported $525 million in goods to the United States in 2020.

Washington has suspended Democratic Republic of Congo from the trade partnership because of alleged human rights violation, but reinstated that country's membership in 2020.

The conflict in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray erupted in November 2020 and has now spread to neighbouring regions. The U.N. has said that war crimes may have been committed by all parties to the conflict.

Ethiopia's government has said it will hold those who commit abuses to account. It has denied blocking food aid to the region.