,,ii #aag? ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #eaed ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,novemb] #cj 7legislative day1 ,novemb] #bi71 #bjbb,mr4 ,van ,holl5 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,f9ance ,a ,,bill ,to promote ! ,african ,cont95tal ,free ,trade ,area1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,/r5g!n+ ! ,african ,cont95tal ,free ,trade ,area ,act ( #bjbb or ! ,/r5g!n+ ! ,af,c,f,t,a ,act ( #bjbb4 #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,by #bjce1 ! gross dome/ic product ( ,african c\ntries is project$ to increase by #dej1jjj1jjj1jjj ) ! implem5tation ( ! ,af,c,f,t,a & lift #cj1jjj1jjj ,africans out ( extreme pov]ty :ile boo/+ ! wages ( ,african wom5 & unskill$ work]s 9 p>ticul>1 accord+ to ,_w ,bank e/imates4 7#b7 ,accord+ to ! ,_w ,bank1 ! total intracont95tal exports f ,african c\ntries w\ld increase by #ha p]c5t "u ! ,af,c,f,t,a4 ,by economic sector1 ! ,af,c,f,t,a is expect$ to be especially important = exp&+ manufactur+1 by increas+ intracont95tal manufactur+ exports by #aaj p]c5t1 :i* w div]sify ,african economies & decrease ! reliance ( su* economies ^u extract+ natural res\rces4 7#c7 ,! ,af,c,f,t,a w also increase ,african manufactur+ exports to ! re/ ( ! _w by #df p]c5t4 ,z a result ( ! ,af,c,f,t,a creat+ new comm]cial opportunities & div]sify+ global supply *a9s1 ! re/ ( ! _w's gross dome/ic product is expect$ to increase by #gf1jjj1jjj1jjj4 #c4 ,/atem5t ( policy ,x is ! policy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to-- 7#a7 support ! ,african ,union's ,ag5da #bjfc ef=ts to promote regional economic developm5t1 div]sification1 & integration by /imulat+ great] trade & inve/m5t among ,african c\ntries & betwe5 ,africa & ! global trade p>tn]s ( ,africa1 notably includ+ great] collaboration ) ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 7#b7 p>tn] ) ! ,african ,union ,commission1 ,african ,union entities su* z ! ,african ,cont95tal ,free ,trade ,area ,secret>iat1 regional economic communities1 & o!r int]gov]nm5tal ,african organizations to bol/] trade & inve/m5t at ! regional1 intracont95tal1 & int]national levels2 7#c7 increase opportunities = trade & inve/m5t betwe5 ,african c\ntries & ,unit$ ,/ates bus9esses1 includ+ ^? own$ by memb]s ( ! ,african diaspora1 !reby contribut+ to pot5tial ,unit$ ,/ates economic gr[?2 & 7#d7 promote ! goals ( ! ,african ,cont95tal ,free ,trade ,area 7,af,c,f,t,a71 =m$ by ! ,agreem5t ,e/abli%+ ! ,african ,cont95tal ,free ,trade ,area1 done at ,kigali1 ,rw&a on ,m>* #ba1 #bjah1 to simplify & exp$ite trade & inve/m5t among ,african c\ntries & exp& comm]cial opportunities = und]s]v$ gr\ps1 wom51 & y\? entrepr5eurs4 #d4 ,/rategy to promote ! ,african ,cont95tal ,free ,trade ,area 7a7 ,developm5t ( /rategy 7#a7 ,unit$ ,/ates ,trade ,repres5tative ,! ,presid5t %all1 us+ exi/+ int]ag5cy trade policy developm5t & coord9ation au?ority & me*anisms1 direct ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,trade ,repres5tative to develop a #aj-ye> ,f$]al /rategy to promote ! ,af,c,f,t,a to a*ieve ! foll[+ goals3 7,a7 ,improv+ ! efficacy1 effici5cy1 & coord9ation ( developm5t aid & te*nical assi/ance f ! ,unit$ ,/ates focus+ on trade capacity build+ t is provid$ to ,african c\ntries1 regional communities1 & int]gov]nm5tal or mult9ational entities1 includ+ to ! ,af,c,f,t,a ,secret>iat4 7,b7 ,implem5t+ trade policy priorities ( ! ,af,c,f,t,a develop$ 9 coord9ation ) cont95tal1 regional1 & c\ntry p>tn]s 9 ,africa4 7#b7 ,elem5ts ,! /rategy develop$ pursuant to p>agraph 7#a7 %all include policy or program plans to accompli% ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,increas+ ! volume & velocity ( goods & s]vices trade betwe5 ,african c\ntries by improv+ cu/oms op]ations1 :i* may include-- 7i7 provid+ support = increas$ automation or onl9e process+ ( cu/oms & cross-bord] trade-relat$ tasks2 & 7ii7 support+ ef=ts-- 7,i7 to ensure adequate access to reliable electrical p[] supplies & int]net access to fo/] digitalization :]e necess>y2 & 7,,ii7 to provide pap]-bas$ or o!r applicable te*nical alt]natives at bord] cross+s :]e electricity or int]net access is unreliable or unavailable1 includ+ 9 coord9ation ) ! ,p[] ,africa initiative ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates :]e applicable4 7,b7 ,exp&+ trade capacities & support+ trade-relat$ infra/ructure developm5t1 prioritiz+ major intra-,african trade corridors4 7,c7 ,support+ ! implem5tation & success ( ! ,af,c,f,t,a & its goals z id5tifi$ 9 consultation ) ,african c\nt]p>ts at ! cont95tal1 regional1 & c\ntry level1 includ+ by-- 7i7 advanc+ ,african regional & intracont95tal alignm5t ( trade-relat$ legal & adm9i/rative proc$ures2 7ii7 /r5g!n+ ! te*nical capacity ( ! ,af,c,f,t,a ,secret>iat2 & 7iii7 promot+ ! developm5t & expansion ( ,african regional economic communities z !y p]ta9 to fo/]+ trade1 includ+ ?r\gh direct consultation & p>tn]%ip ) ! ,af,c,f,t,a ,secret>iat4 7,d7 ,improv+ ! efficacy ( trade capacity build+ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates to support ! implem5tation ( ! ,af,c,f,t,a1 z appropriate1 by prev5t+ duplication ( or incompatibility betwe5 ! assi/ance activities ( o!r major donors 7su* z nongov]nm5tal organizations1 o!r c\ntries1 & int]gov]nm5tal organizations7 & ! policies & projects includ$ 9 ! /rategy4 7,e7 ,enabl+ m effective & inclusive p>ticipation ( /akehold]s1 includ+ ^? repres5t+ work]s1 environm5tal su/a9ability1 wom51 y\?1 or m>g9aliz$ or und]repres5t$ gr\ps1 9 ! negotiation & implem5tation ( ! ,af,c,f,t,a4 7,f7 ,increas+ trade & inve/m5t by ! ,unit$ ,/ates to exp& ,african regional value *a9s1 especially z x relates to increas+ manufactur+ & production 9 ,africa 9 indu/ries expect$ to gr[ ) ! implem5tation ( ! ,af,c,f,t,a4 7,g7 ,evaluat+ ! indu/ries 9 :i* ! ,unit$ ,/ates has a comp>ative advantage 9 ,africa relative to o!r c\ntries & promot+ trade & inve/m5t )9 ^? indu/ries1 especially 9 indu/ries expect$ to gr[ ) ! implem5tation ( ! ,af,c,f,t,a4 7#c7 ,bi5nial updates ,! /rategy requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all be updat$ bi5nially4 7#d7 ,prior approval ,! /rategy requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 & any update to t /rategy "u p>agraph 7#c7 may only be develop$ ?r\gh prior consultation )1 & submitt$ ) ! approval (1 ! ,trade ,policy ,/aff ,committee4 7#e7 ,consultation ,9 develop+ ! /rategy requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 & any update to t /rategy "u p>agraph 7#c71 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,trade ,repres5tative %all1 z appropriate & practicable1 consult )-- 7,a7 /akehold]s 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & 9 ,africa f ! private sector1 civil society1 & ,african diaspora2 7,b7 relevant ,african ,union entities su* z ! ,af,c,f,t,a ,secret>iat2 7,c7 ,/ate1 local1 & ,tribal gov]nm5ts2 & 7,d7 developm5t ag5cies & entities ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates n repres5t$ on ! ,trade ,policy ,/aff ,committee1 su* z ! ,prosp] ,africa ,initiative1 ! ,mill5nium ,*all5ge ,corporation1 & ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,int]national ,developm5t ,f9ance ,corporation4 7b7 ,initial report ,n lat] ?an #bgj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,presid5t %all 7subject to ! prior approval requir$ "u subsection 7a77#d77 submit to ! relevant congressional committees an initial report t includes ! /rategy requir$ "u subsection 7a7 & an implem5tation plan = t /rategy t includes ea* ( ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! rationale1 objectives1 & anticipat$ mann] ( implem5tation ( ! /rategy4 7#b7 ,! anticipat$ role ( ea* ag5cy repres5t$ 9 ! ,trade ,policy ,/aff ,committee 9 ! implem5tation ( ! /rategy4 7#c7 ,a summ>y ( ! curr5t trade capacity-build+ programs1 projects1 & activities ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 support ( ! ,af,c,f,t,a z ( ! date ( ! submission ( ! report1 & ! relation%ips betwe5 su* programs1 projects1 & activities & ! objectives ( ! /rategy4 7#d7 ,any gaps1 ineffici5cies1 or unmet ne$s id5tifi$ 9 ! c\rse ( prep>+ ! summ>y describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#c74 7#e7 ,qualitative & quantitative goals & metrics = ! implem5tation ( ! /rategy1 includ+ ! crit]ia to be us$ 9 monitor+ & evaluat+ progress t[>ds ! objectives ( ! /rategy4 7#f7 ,recomm5dations1 9 consultation ) ! ,director ( ! ,(fice ( ,managem5t & ,budget1 relat+ to programmatic or appropriations measures t c\ld pot5tially enhance ! implem5tation ( ! /rategy1 includ+ legislative or executive policy *anges = su* enhanc$ implem5tation4 7c7 ,bi5nial report 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an ea* ( #b1 #d1 #f1 & #h ye>s aft] ! date ( ! submission ( ! initial report requir$ by subsection 7b71 ! ,presid5t %all submit to ! relevant congressional committees a report conta9+ revisions & updates to ! /rategy requir$ "u subsection 7a7 & an assessm5t ( ! progress made 9 implem5t+ ! /rategy z describ$ 9 su* initial report4 7#b7 ,elem5ts ,ea* report requir$ by p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ea* ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,a description ( ! obligation & exp5diture ( all am\nts made available to c>ry out ! /rategy requir$ "u subsection 7a7 dur+ ! prec$+ #b fiscal ye>s1 disaggregat$ by fiscal ye>1 acc\nt1 & activity4 7,b7 ,notable successes & *all5ges relat+ to ! implem5tation ( ! /rategy4 7,c7 ,an evaluation ( ! progress t[>d a*iev+ ! qualitative & quantitative goals & metrics includ$ 9 ! initial report requir$ by subsection 7b7 pursuant to p>agraph 7#e7 ( t subsection4 7,d7 ,any updates & revisions made to ! crit]ia describ$ 9 subsection 7b77#e7 & includ$ 9 ! initial report4 7,e7 ,updat$ recomm5dations z describ$ 9 subsection 7b77#f74 7d7 ,f9al report 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #aj ye>s aft] ! date ( ! submission ( ! initial report requir$ by subsection 7b71 ! ,presid5t %all submit to ! relevant congressional committees a report t assesses progress ( ! /rategy requir$ by subsection 7a7 dur+ ! #aj-ye> p]iod prec$+ ! date ( ! report4 7#b7 ,elem5ts ,! report requir$ by p>agraph 7#a7 %all include ea* ( ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,an assessm5t ( ! progress made 9 ! implem5tation ( ! /rategy requir$ by subsection 7a7 dur+ ! #aj-ye> p]iod prec$+ ! date ( ! report ) respect to ea* ( ! goals describ$ 9 subsection 7a77#a71 includ+ ) respect to ! qualitative & quantitative goals & metrics includ$ 9 ! initial report pursuant to subsection 7b77#e7 & us+ ! crit]ia describ$ 9 su* subsection 7b77#e74 7,b7 ,an assessm5t ( ! successes1 *all5ges1 & effectiv5ess ( ! /rategy4 7,c7 ,recomm5d$ legislative or adm9i/rative policy *anges relevant to address+ any gaps1 policy or program %ortcom+s1 or o!r out/&+ *all5ges relat+ to ! goals ( ! /rategy1 along ) descriptions ( prospective foll[-up activities necess>y to address ^? *all5ges4 7,d7 ,recomm5dations relat+ to fo/]+ fur!r syn]gies betwe5 implem5tation ( activities1 z relevant & appropriate1 relat+ to ! ,african ,gr[? & ,opportunity ,act 7#ai ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja et seq471 ! ,af,c,f,t,a1 & any o!r trade policy initiatives ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates t[>ds ,africa1 includ+ types ( activities & expect$ outcomes bas$ on ! implem5tation ( ! /rategy4 7,e7 ,a detail$ description ( ! exp5diture ( all am\nts au?oriz$ to implem5t ! /rategy ?r\gh\t ! #aj-ye> p]iod1 includ+ am\nts appropriat$ pursuant to ! au?orization "u section #e7;c71 disaggregat$ by fiscal ye>1 acc\nt1 & activity4 7e7 ,publication ,ea* report requir$ by ?is section %all be submitt$ 9 unclassifi$ =m & may include a classifi$ annex4 ,! unclassifi$ portion ( ea* su* report %all be po/$ on publicly available websites ( ! ,(fice ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,trade ,repres5tative4 #e4 ,af,c,f,t,a ,trade ,capacity ,build+ ,program 7a7 ,trade capacity build+ implem5tation ,! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national ,developm5t %all e/abli% an ,af,c,f,t,a ,trade ,capacity ,build+ ,program 79 ?is section ref]r$ to z ! ,program7 to support ! implem5tation ( ! /rategy requir$ by section #d7;a7 ?r\gh exi/+ au?orities grant$ by ! ,=eign ,assi/ance ,act ( #aifa 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #baea et seq471 9 collaboration ) cont95tal1 regional1 & c\ntry p>tn]s 9 ,africa4 7b7 ,matt]s ,to be includ$ ,9 c>ry+ out ! ,program1 ! ,adm9i/rator-- 7#a7 may designate ! ,prosp] ,africa ,initiative to adm9i/] ! ,program2 7#b7 may support multi-ye> & r5ewable activities ) ! ,program2 7#c7 %all consult ) ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,trade ,repres5tative 9 mak+ programmatic decisions2 & 7#d7 %all receive approval f ! ,trade ,policy ,/aff ,committee = all activities = :i* funds are plann$ to be made available 7includ+ any transf]s to o!r ,f$]al dep>tm5ts1 ag5cies1 or entities7 9 a fiscal ye> f ! ,program be=e ! />t ( su* fiscal ye>4 7c7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ #bjj1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjbe ?r\gh #bjcd = ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national ,developm5t to c>ry out ! ,program4 ,am\nts s au?oriz$-- 7#a7 %all be 9 addition to am\nts o!rwise au?oriz$ = exi/+ projects1 programs1 & activities t support ! goals ( ! ,program2 7#b7 may also be made available = consult+ or te*nical s]vices1 equipm5t1 new p]sonnel1 or o!r project-relat$ adm9i/rative exp5ses associat$ ) ! developm5t1 implem5tation1 & report+ requirem5ts ( ! /rategy requir$ by section #d7;a72 & 7#c7 are au?oriz$ to be transf]r$ f ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national ,developm5t to o!r appropriate ,f$]al dep>tm5ts or ag5cies to ! ext5t provid$ 9 advance by appropriations ,acts4 #f4 ,rule ( con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act may be con/ru$ to-- 7#a7 limit any au?ority or responsibility ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,trade ,repres5tative relat+ to ! e/abli%m5t or implem5tation ( ! trade policies ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 7includ+ "u section #ada ( ! ,trade ,act ( #aigd 7#ai ,u4,s4,c4 #baga772 or 7#b7 transf] any su* au?ority or responsibility to ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,ag5cy = ,int]national ,developm5t4 #g4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,af,c,f,t,a ,! t]m ,af,c,f,t,a means ! ,african ,cont95tal ,free ,trade ,area au?oriz$ to be creat$ "u ! ,agreem5t ,e/abli%+ ! ,african ,cont95tal ,free ,trade ,area1 adopt$ by its ,african ,union signatories 9 ,kigali1 ,rw&a1 on ,m>* #ba1 #bjah4 7#b7 ,relevant congressional committees ,! t]m relevant congressional committees means ! foll[+3 7,a7 ,! ,committee on ,=eign ,relations1 ! ,committee on ,f9ance1 & ! ,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate4 7,b7 ,! ,committee on ,=eign ,affairs1 ! ,committee on ,ways & ,means1 & ! ,committee on ,appropriations ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4 7#c7 ,trade ,policy ,/aff ,committee ,! t]m ,trade ,policy ,/aff ,committee means ! int]ag5cy organization e/abli%$ "u section #bdb7;a7 ( ! ,trade ,expansion ,act ( #aifb 7#ai ,u4,s4,c4 #ahgb7;a774