Transforming US-Africa Economic Engagement into a 21st Century Partnership
Africa is home to the world’s largest free trade area, to economies in transformation, and to abundant investment opportunities. The United States has long been a top economic partner of African countries, and this partnership is a critical component of the Biden administration’s Africa Strategy. From December 13–15, 2022, President Biden will host the second US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. to “build on shared values,” “foster new economic engagement,” and work toward transforming the US-Africa relationship into a “21st century partnership.”
Speakers will assess the progress of US-Africa economic relations since the first Leaders Summit in 2014 and address key aspects of the economic relationship at the heart of the new US Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa. They will analyze some of the core issues shaping the US-Africa economic partnership and offer practical recommendations for policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic. The panelists will address the most transformative actions policymakers can take to strengthen trade through mechanisms like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), seize opportunities and navigate challenges in digital transformation in Africa, enhance efforts to bolster food security, and reimagine development finance in a post-COVID Africa.