Legal-Economic Challenges of Accessing the US Market through AGOA

A Review of Tanzania’s Trade Experience. EACJ Rules and Procedure

Abstract

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), offers preferential access by Sub–Saharan African Countries into United State (US) markets. AGOA accords duty – free access for eligible products in the largest single market in the world. This article assesses the effectiveness of AGOA in enhancing Tanzania trade. Specifically, it seeks to analyse the extent to which AGOA contributes to the accessibility of US Markets by Tanzania Traders and business people, based on the country’s trade experience. Using primary data obtained through surveys from relevant Tanzania government agencies and secondary data from trade organisations including the AGOA website, the article concludes that inherent structural constraints facing Tanzanian exporters, together with limited productive business environment, negatively affect the utility of the trade agreement. These limitations reduce significantly the ability of AGOA to enhance accessibility of the US market by Tanzanian traders and business people.