US Drops Burkina Faso From Africa Free Trade Deal

The United States has dropped Burkina Faso from African free trade deal.

The American Trade Representative’s office said the country had failed to meet the requirements of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA because it had acted unconstitutionally.

Report says there were two military coups in Burkina Faso last year, sparked by the authorities’ inability to control an intensifying Islamist insurgency.

AGOA gives sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US as long as they meet certain eligibility requirements, including progress toward democracy.

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso has repeated its commitment to restoring constitutional rule within 18 months following a decision by the US to drop it from its preferential trade programme.

BBC/Christopher Ojilere