The 8th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum in Nairobi Kenya under the theme "Realizing the Full Potential of AGOA through Expansion of Trade and Investment" ought to be Africa's moment of soul searching.

 

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leads the 8th AGOA forum  delegation. Photo courtesy

We have seen figures showing dollar value of exports and gross tax revenues, but who is exporting what? Have Africans grown their capacity to produce and export? While it is clear that the U.S imports more from Africa through its surrogate companies, a surge in Chinese imports over the traditional U.S.A and European imports saw Africa record an average 5% economic growth between 2005 – 2008, yet they all focus on raw materials. The U.S. - Africa trade relations ought to move from donated windows of access to full access, for that is what free trade is all about.

 

African countries on the other hand have failed to domesticate the AGOA eligibility criteria leading to participation in a trade pact that is one sided. The leadership on the continent ought to thoroughly analyze trade pacts with bigger markets and seek to develop their own interest in order to engage in value driven relationship. U.S.A is not to blame for pushing its own interests; it is the responsibility of Africans to seek to push for their own too. To claim that infrastructure holds back Africa from free trade is to insult the continents' ancestors who without highways and jet planes, engaged in global trade through long distance treks to coastal towns.