The Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, has held discussions with senior officials of the United States (US) Department of Commerce in Washington, DC, as part of efforts to deepen economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting was against the backdrop of the United States’ “America First” Trade Policy and the subsequent imposition of a blanket 10 per cent tariff on shipments from several countries, including Ghana.
The minister was accompanied by a Ghanaian career diplomat and acting Head of Mission at Ghana’s Mission in Washington, Ambassador Jane Gasu Aheto; the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority, Dr Mary Awusi, and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Abdul Razak.
The US party was represented by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East and Africa, Thomas Bruns, and the acting Director/Designated Federal Officer for the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA), Giancarlo Cavallo.
The discussions centred on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), local content policy, import regulations, outstanding debts to US companies and Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).
Mrs Ofosu-Adjare reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with the United States and emphasised the importance of continued engagement on trade policy issues that impact both economies.
As the agreement on AGOA is set to expire in September 2025, the minister reaffirmed Ghana’s support for its renewal, emphasising AGOA’s role in attracting substantial US investments, particularly in Ghana’s flourishing garment and textile sector.
The Minister of Trade described AGOA as a “win-win” arrangement that had benefited both countries.
Speaking to the issue of local content policy, Ms Ofosu-Adjare told the US officials that the impact of Ghana’s local content regulations on US mining companies operating in the country had been reviewed.
The US delegation acknowledged Ghana’s proactive steps in initiating dialogue and expressed the willingness to work collaboratively on shared priorities.
Both sides agreed on the need for constructive dialogue to balance national development goals with investor interests.
US officials also raised concerns regarding the importation of excavators and overage vehicles from the US to Ghana, calling for greater regulatory clarity and improved standards compliance.
Addressing concerns about long-standing payments owed to American businesses, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare assured the US officials that the Ministry of Finance was working towards a timely resolution.
The discussions also called for a resumed dialogue under the TIFA platform to revitalise structured trade and investment relations between the two countries.
Context
The meeting marks an important step in Ghana’s broader efforts to re-engage global partners and reinforce the country’s commitment to trade diplomacy, economic cooperation and investment promotion.
As a follow-up to the discussions, Mrs Ofosu-Adjare, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Techiman North, will meet with the Office of the United States Trade Representative in the coming weeks to continue bilateral consultations on trade and economic issues of mutual interest.
