it is vital to provide robust funding for trade capacity building assistance to implement the landmark African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Provide robust funding for trade capacity building assistance to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Occurrences
Evidence
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Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick (for herself and Mr. Jackson of Illinois) introduced the bill. Section 6 would require USAID to establish an AfCFTA Trade Capacity Building Program and authorize $50,000,000 for each fiscal year 2025 through 2034.
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Congress.gov lists H.R.8249 with the status Introduced and latest action: House - 12/17/2024 Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
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CRS reported that U.S. AfCFTA support generally took the form of ad hoc workshops, trainings, and dialogue events, and that there appeared to be no comprehensive data source tracking funding specifically for AfCFTA implementation.
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CRS stated that USAID's TCB database does not break out AfCFTA-specific funding, and that trade integration funding, the category most akin to AfCFTA support, averaged $2.6 million annually from 2011 to 2020, less than 1% of total U.S. TCB funding to Africa.
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USTR reported that in 2024 the U.S. Government and AfCFTA Secretariat continued implementing the 2022 MOU and engaged in technical meetings throughout 2024.
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The FY2026 final explanatory statement includes $6,766,874,000 for National Security Investment Programs, says Africa-directed funds should focus on sub-Saharan Africa, and lists a global-program line for Trade capacity building at $15,000,000. It contains no AfCFTA or African Continental Free Trade Area line item.
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The FY2027 House Appropriations report supports trade capacity building programs that advance U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere and Africa, including AGOA goals by increasing intra-continental trade, and requires a FY2027 spend plan. It does not name AfCFTA or create dedicated AfCFTA implementation funding.
Assessments
Jackson co-introduced H.R.8249, which directly matched the promise by proposing a USAID AfCFTA Trade Capacity Building Program with $50 million annually for FY2025-FY2034. But the bill only reached referral to the Trade Subcommittee and did not become law. Enacted FY2026 materials and FY2027 House report language show only broad trade-capacity or Africa/AGOA-related funding, not robust dedicated AfCFTA implementation funding. Existing executive engagement and technical meetings are insufficient to count as delivery of the promised funding outcome.
Jackson co-introduced H.R.8249, the ASTIP Act of 2024, which closely matched the promise by proposing a USAID AfCFTA Trade Capacity Building Program and authorizing $50 million annually for FY2025-FY2034. But the bill was only introduced and referred to committee; it did not become law or produce appropriated funding. The USTR and CRS evidence shows ongoing AfCFTA technical engagement and ad hoc assistance, not the robust dedicated funding promised. This was a serious same-term legislative attempt, but the outcome was not delivered.