The U.S. Trade Representative said on Tuesday it was reviewing trade benefits to Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) after a complaint by U.S. interests about an East African ban on imports of used clothing.

USTR said the “out-of-cycle” review was in response to a petition filed by the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART), which complained that the ban “imposed significant hardship” on the U.S. used-clothing industry and violated AGOA rules.

http://www.africanews.com/2017/06/21/rwanda-tanzania-and-uganda-face-us-sanction-after-used-clothes-ban//

US gives three East African states ultimatum to reverse mitumba ban

East African nations that are en-route to banning the importation of used clothes may soon pay the price after Washington said it will impose trade penalties in retaliation to what it sees as a blockage of free trade.

The US State Department’s Harry Sullivan, the Africa Bureau acting head of the economic and regional affairs, said Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda have until next week to reverse the decision or face the penalties.

http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/business/East-Africa-US-mitumba-ban-Agoa-threats-penalties/2560-4305604-j0yhri/index.html