Author: FDA Staff 5/2/2025 Foundation for Democracry In Africa
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CONFERENCE UPDATE
Ambassador John Kayode Shinkaiye, Chairman of JKS and Associates Ltd. and former Chief of Staff to two African Union Chairpersons, Fred Oladeinde, Chairman, AGOA CSO Network, and Professor Robert A. Destro, Professor of Law, The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of State (left to right)
10th Annual AGOA Civil Society Organization Network Spring Conference
The 10th Annual AGOA Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network Spring Conference occurred on April 23, 2025, at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC, and online. In the context of President Trump’s America First Policy and recent tariff announcements, the conference brought together AGOA CSO Network Members and other stakeholders to focus on these trade policies and devise recommendations to strengthen trade and economic cooperation between the United States and Africa.
Theme: Strengthening U.S.-Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Under the Trump Administration
Agenda
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Registration and Networking
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM: Welcome Remarks
Fred Oladeinde, Chairman, AGOA CSO Network Organization
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM: Keynote Address
Robert A. Destro, Professor of Law, The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of State
11:10 AM – 12:15 PM: Panel Discussion: The Future of U.S.-Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation
Joshua “Josh” Snead, Staff Director, Trade Subcommittee and Chief Trade Counsel Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives (R)
Alexandra Whittaker, Staff Director, Trade Subcommittee and Chief Trade Counsel Committee on Ways and Means, U.S. House of Representatives (D)
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM: Luncheon Speakers
H.E. Hilda Suka-Mafudze, African Union Ambassador to the United States
Ambassador John Kayode Shinkaiye, Chairman of JKS and Associates Ltd. and former Chief of Staff to Two African Union Chairpersons
1:10 PM – 3:10 PM: Roundtable Discussion: The Role of Civil Society in U.S.-Africa Trade and Foreign Relations Under the Trump Administration
3:15 PM – 3:30 PM: Recap and Future Directions
Summary of Key Takeaways and Announcement of Upcoming Events
Speeches/Presentations
H.E. Hilda Suka-Mafudze, African Union Ambassador to the United States
Ambassador John Kayode Shinkaiye, Chairman of JKS and Associates Ltd. and former Chief of Staff to two African Union Commission Chairpersons
The AGOA CSO Network Secretariat welcomes your input on the final conference report. Please share your country-specific recommendations on strengthening U.S. trade and economic cooperation. Your recommendations are due by May 15, 2025, and we appreciate your timely response.
Summary of Key Points: The conference highlighted the necessity for all African countries to engage in timely negotiations with the Trump Administration on reciprocal tariffs and non-tariff measures before the deadline of July 8, 2025, when President Trump’s 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs ends.
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If you are interested in joining a “Working Group to Develop the Advocacy Campaign on Strengthening U.S.-Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Under the Trump administration,” which will focus on recommendations for advancing trade relations between the U.S. and Africa, please email your name, title, organization, biography, and the country you are from to agoacsonet@democracy-africa.org by May 15, 2025, and we will contact you.
CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHS
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