Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore) called on President Biden yesterday to revoke Uganda’s trade preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act in response to the country’s new law that would punish LGBTQI+ individuals with jail or even the death penalty.
“The United States must not extend trade benefits to countries that violate human rights by sanctioning violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity,” he said in a statement. “I call on President Biden to immediately suspend Uganda’s AGOA benefits, and work with our allies to remove similar benefits, until Uganda repeals its cruel anti-LGBTQI+ law and improves its record on human rights, corruption and rule of law.”
Last month, Sen. Wyden sent a letter to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to revoke Uganda’s trade benefits under AGOA if the law was enacted.
President Biden over the weekend issued a statement condemning the new law and promising a review of Uganda’s AGOA eligibility. The President said he also is considering sanctions and restriction of entry into the United States against anyone involved in serious human rights abuses or corruption.
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