U.S.-Africa trade in a post-AGOA worldThe 30th of September 2025 - that's the day the African Growth and Opportunity Act expired. African nations that were under AGOA, can no longer export goods to the United States, duty-free. And now those countries are grappling with tariffs, imposed by the US, on their exports. What does life […]
The U.S.-Africa Trade Desk (USATD) is starting 2026 with strong momentum. In the coming days, our team will be on the ground in West Africa, conducting a series of business and supply-chain site visits as part of our broader engagement across priority export markets. These visits mark an important early-year focus for USATD, centered on […]
USATD continued its on-the-ground engagements in Benin with a visit to a cashew processing facility operating within established international supply chains. The facility focuses on primary cashew processing at origin, including deshelling, with shelled kernels prepared for export. Roasting and final processing are completed in the United States, reflecting a value chain where different stages […]
USATD held a series of insightful meetings and site visits at textile and apparel production facilities in Benin last Friday, gaining first-hand perspective on the country’s evolving textile ecosystem. The engagement focused on apparel manufacturing operations, local workforce participation, and how integrated textile production at origin connects to global apparel value chains, including the U.S. […]
Frances Fraser, our Director of Continental Services, joined Solina Moodley's butter chicken masterclass — bringing a trade lens to a room full of flavor. U.S. consumers are leaning into international profiles. Africa has the spices, the aromatics, and the origin stories. The opportunity is in connecting the two. That's the work that we execute.
We were in Orlando this week for IDDBA 2026 — walking the floor, tasting everything in sight, and taking notes on where the dairy, deli, and bakery space is headed. A few things that stood out: Clean ingredients are taking center stage. Shorter ingredient lists, whole foods, and products free of preservatives were some of […]
From these “promiscuous palates” to the push for wider non‑dairy choices and whole foods with more recognizable ingredient lists, the mood at this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show was all about adventurous taste and transparency. African producers are already answering that call with distinctive sauces, spices, nut‑based snacks, and innovative plant‑forward products. While U.S. brands […]
