Suspension of Ethiopia from AGOA Counter productive: CSOs Council

Addis Ababa November 5/2021 (ENA) The Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Council has expressed its grave concern with the USG`S decision to suspend Ethiopia`s AGOA privileges as it will directly affect the low income segment of the society.

The national CSOs council in Ethiopia learned of the suspension of the AGOA privileges for Ethiopia with a grave concern, according to a statement sent to ENA.

“We are concerned that such restrictions could be counterproductive and the unintended consequences will be more severe as the step will be directly affect close to 200,000 Ethiopians mostly women (over 80 percent) and over a million Ethiopians that make a living within the value chain of the sectors,” it stated.

Owing to the sheer level of economic isolation and threat to trading relationship, the effect t can be especially damaging to the business trade and commerce of Ethiopia, the CSOs elaborated.

Accordingly, the decision will create a negative effect on the livelihood of tens of millions of Ethiopians that depend on the business confidence striving to get out of poverty and have nothing to do with the conflict.

As the result of the negative effect of trade embargoes, domestic industries and producers often suffer a decline in their export markets and revenues thereby threatening jobs and livelihoods.

“We would like to express our grave concern with the USG`s decision to suspend Ethiopia`s AGOA privileges as it will directly affect the low income segments of the society, particularly  women and will likely to bear no fruits in the effort to restore the peace and security of the country,” it pointed out.

The CSOs council calls on the USG to continue supporting the resolution of the conflict in an impartial manner.