US curbs African trade benefits

Washington, 24 Dec-(ANA)-US President Barack Obama has stopped Madagascar, Guinea and Niger from receiving trade benefits for a year.

He said they had failed to make "continual progress" in meeting US requirements for a programme designed to create jobs in Africa.

Mr Obama said that each of the countries "has experienced an undemocratic transfer of power" meaning they did not satisfy the criteria.

However, Mauritania was re-instated to the programme.

The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act was set up in 2000 to offer "tangible benefits" for African countries trying to adapt their economies to a free market. (ANA)

FA/ANA/24 December 2009----