The United States has suspended duty-free trade with three countries over allegations of human rights abuses and recent military coups. The three countries in Africa are Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea. Khabar Al-Jazeera.
Ethiopia, Mali and Guinea have been left out of the African Growth and Opportunities (AGOA) trade project with African countries, the US Trade Representative (USTR) said in a statement on Saturday. The decision was taken due to human rights violations and unconstitutional actions of the governments of these three countries against their own people. Such action is a violation of the terms of the AGOA.
The statement added that the United States is deeply concerned about serious human rights violations in Ethiopia, especially in the north of the country. They are also concerned about the unconstitutional change of government in Guinea and Mali. For these reasons, the administration of US President Joe Biden has canceled duty-free trade with the three countries.
However, subject to the conditions being met, the three countries would be deemed eligible to receive this special benefit again, the statement said. No response was received from the US embassies in the three African countries following the cancellation of the duty-free trade facility. The governments of the three countries also did not comment.
The AGOA was passed by the US Congress in May 2000. Under this, 36 countries of the African continent were getting duty free trade facility in the US market.
Corona graph is upward in West Bengal. Different types of corona infections are increasing rapidly. According to the state health department, 4,512 people have been newly infected with corona in West Bengal in the last 24 hours. Nine people died. And 1 thousand 913 people have been discharged from the hospital. So far 18 lakh 42 thousand 996 people have been infected with corona in this state including Kolkata. And 19 thousand 83 people died. Last Friday, the number of people affected by Corona in West Bengal was 3,451.
Fear is spreading across the state in this upward graph of corona. For this, the inauguration of two programs of the state government has been postponed on Saturday. Government program at a door. The other is the student credit card distribution program. The door-to-door program was to start in the state from today. The program was to start with 8,000 camps across the state. Originally, this program was taken to bring the state administration to the doorsteps of the people. After the formation of the new government, this program was to be started again today.
On the other hand, the program of distributing ‘Students Credit Cards’ for loans up to Rs 10 lakh through credit cards given to students by the state government was also to be inaugurated at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Monday. The program was inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. That too has been postponed. In order to reduce the spread of coronavirus, train services and temporary closure of schools and colleges may be taken this time, according to Kolkata media reports.
Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court informed yesterday that all the cases of the Calcutta High Court will be heard virtually from Monday.
Flights from various airlines continue to be canceled in the United States due to unfavorable weather conditions as well as the rise in corona infections due to emissions. About 2,600 domestic and international flights were canceled on Saturday alone. News AFP.
Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during this time in the United States. The increase in transmission has had an impact on airlines.
