Finance Committee Chair Asks That Uganda Be Removed From AGOA
Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., who previously asked the administration to warn Uganda that its anti-gay law risked its continued participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (see 2304280060), is now calling on the administration to revoke Uganda's tariff breaks under AGOA. The law allows for the death penalty for gay sex with a minor, or for HIV-positive gay people having sex. It provides for up to 10 years in prison for asserting you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary or transgender.
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Wyden issued a statement May 30 that said: "The United States must not extend trade benefits to countries that violate human rights by sanctioning violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. I call on President [Joe] Biden to immediately suspend Uganda’s AGOA benefits, and work with our allies to remove similar benefits, until Uganda repeals its cruel anti-LGBTQI+ law and improves its record on human rights, corruption and rule of law."
According to AGOA.info, the U.S. imported $10.4 million worth of products covered by AGOA from Uganda in 2022; it also had about $5 million worth of exports in 2021 that would have been covered by the Generalized System of Preferences benefits program, had it been active.