Ambassador Ron Kirk convened a meeting of USTR’s Trade Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA) on Thursday afternoon. The meeting was chaired by Mora McLean of the Africa-America Institute. USTR officials participating included Deputy USTR Ambassador Demetrios Marantis, Assistant USTR for Africa Florie Liser, and staff from the Office of African Affairs, Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, and Trade and Development. Officials from the Export-Import Bank and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) also participated and made brief presentations on trade financing and investment in sub-Saharan Africa. TACA Members discussed the National Export Initiative, the Doha Round, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), U.S.-Africa trade patterns, trade capacity building, and other issues. Ambassador Kirk emphasized that trade policy and export promotion are an integral part of the Administration’s economic recovery plan and job creation at home, and that trade and investment with African countries creates opportunities for growth on both continents.
Ambassador Kirk makes opening remarks at the TACA Meeting
