Guest Blogger: Why Civil Society’s Role in Trade Is Vital

Gregory Simpkins / July 30, 2010

In 2000, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was signed into law to boost America’s economic relationships with African nations. Since its inception, the level of trade between the United States and African countries has grown significantly, but most of that increase has been in the extractive industries. Broadening the benefits of AGOA and opening the door to more than oil and minerals is a shared goal.

During last year’s AGOA Civil Society Forum in Nairobi, the AGOA trade process was compared to a sporting event. African and American businesses are the players who compete to make successful deals that create wealth and thereby reduce poverty. Government plays the role of referees, who in this case create and enforce the rules of competition. Finally, civil society acts as the analysts who tell the public not just what the statistics say about who is winning and losing but why they win or lose and how the rules affect the game. The players must be creative and diligent in their efforts achieve profits that will benefit themselves, their families, and their communities. The referees must make sure reasonable rules are observed fairly and equally. The analysts of civil society must tell the public not just what they see but also what trade and investment mean for the common future. (more…)