Trump administration to end trade benefits for Mauritania over forced labour

"Forced or compulsory labour practices like hereditary slavery have no place in the 21st century," Deputy U.S. Trade Representative C.J. Mahoney said.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Washington DC | Updated: 03-11-2018 07:18 IST | Created: 03-11-2018 06:58 IST
Trump administration to end trade benefits for Mauritania over forced labour
Trump has determined after an annual eligibility review that Mauritania is not in compliance with requirements of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). (Image Credit: Twitter)
  • Country:
  • Mauritania
  • United States

U.S. President Donald Trump intends to end trade benefits for Mauritania on Jan. 1 for not making sufficient progress on ending forced labour practices, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office (USTR) said on Friday.

In a statement, USTR said Trump has determined after an annual eligibility review that Mauritania is not in compliance with requirements of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free treatment for certain goods.

"Forced or compulsory labour practices like hereditary slavery have no place in the 21st century," Deputy U.S. Trade Representative C.J. Mahoney said.

"We hope Mauritania will work with us to eradicate forced labour and hereditary slavery so that its AGOA eligibility may be restored in the future," Mahoney said.

(With inputs from agencies.)

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