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Powell Discusses U.S. Africa Policy Before House Committee March 7Africa Subcommittee Chairman Royce advocates AGOA expansion |
By Susan Ellis
Washington File Staff Writer
On March 7, Powell faced questions covering the full range of U.S. involvement on the world stage from 26 Republican and 23 Democratic members of the House International Relations Committee.
Representative Edward Royce, (Republican of California), chairman of the Africa subcommittee, said "There is no doubt that U.S. policy can positively alter the course of events on the (African) continent and it is in our interest to do so." He said he fully supports Powell's comments during his confirmation hearing, calling the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act "one of the most important measures that Congress considered last year."
Calling it bipartisan legislation that is "critical to bringing Africa into the world economy," Royce called on Powell's support in meeting two challenges which lie ahead: " implementing the legislation in a way that maximizes its benefits -- avoiding the bureaucratic blocking that threatens the flow of goods between the U.S. and Africa -- and holding the U.S.-Africa economic forum that the legislation establishes."
He also urged expanding the legislation, ideally by eliminating the caps that were imposed on duty-free African textile imports. "The Africa trade bill is paying real dividends, but we need to do more and it's time for us as a nation to follow our enlightened self-interest when it comes to trade with Africa. The bill did expand our exports in Africa considerably." He also expressed interest in having the United States engage more fully in assistance to India.
Powell recalled his and Royce's days in Nigeria supervising the recent presidential election there saying: "I think we can be proud now of the start that President Obasanjo has made in putting his country back on the right path. "
He said that a number of African countries have "gone through the first hurdle to get ready for the first benefits of the act and we are now working on this forum that is required by the act."
He said he would get back to the Congress on the administration's position on caps "since it would affect departments other than the State Department."
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Website http://usinfo. State.gov)