AGOA and West Africa: An Analysis of Performance

Abstract

With its recent extension to 2015, AGOA now offers stable prospects for economic growth and development in Africa. West Africa's participation has however been disappointment in all sectors except oil whose inclusion in AGOA is thought to be largely political. In the much celebrated apparels trade, West Africa accounted for less than 1% of trade, while all-Africa Quota Fill Rate has been below 40% since 2003, thanks largely to unduly stringent rules of origin. The opportunities offered by AGOA would probably have been more productive were they placed in a multilateral framework.