The Biden Administration has removed Uganda from a favored nations trade deal in response to the East African country’s anti-sodomy laws.
On December 29, 2023, the White House issued a “Proclamation to Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act [AGOA] and For Other Purposes.”
The proclamation stated: “The President initially designated the Central African Republic, the Gabonese Republic (Gabon), Republic of Niger (Niger), and the Republic of Uganda (Uganda) as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries,” however, the “Trade Act provides that the President shall terminate the designation of a country as a beneficiary… if the President determines that the country is not meeting the requirements.”
President Biden has “determined that the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda do not meet the requirements.”
“Accordingly,” the presidential proclamation stated: “I have decided to terminate the designations of the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries for the purposes of section 506A of the Trade Act, effective January 1, 2024.”
The African trade program allows eligible countries to export over 2000 products to the US duty-free to assist their developing economies. However, to take advantage of the AGOA act, exporting nations must make “continual progress” in the areas of “market-based economy, the rule of law, political pluralism and the right to due process,” as well as “enact[ing] policies to reduce poverty, combat corruption and protect human rights.”
In November a White House spokesman said Uganda and the CAR were under scrutiny for unstated “human rights” abuses; both countries criminalize homosexual activities. Gabon and Niger were removed from the trade deal after military juntas seized power in those nations.
The Church of Uganda has supported the government’s anti-sodomy laws citing the need to protect the family and young people from moral corruption.
