Regional Economic Communities

In recent years there has been a strong global trend toward increasing regional integration in the areas of trade and investment. Sub-Saharan Africa has a number of regional economic communities (RECs), each with similar goals of fostering cooperation and a degree of economic integration-typically as free trade areas, customs unions (free trade area with common external tariffs), or monetary unions.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern African (COMESA)

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is the largest regional economic organization in Africa, with 20 member states, including Burundi, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and a population of about 390 million.

Trade Agreements: The U.S. and COMESA have a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), signed in 2001.The United States has $13.2 billion in total (two-way) goods trade with COMESA countries during 2011.

Exports

U.S. goods exports to COMESA in 2011 were $8.6 billion, down 8.8%% ($835 million) from 2010.

Roughly 72% of U.S. exports to COMESA went to Egypt in 2011.  The top U.S. export markets in COMESA for 2011 were: Egypt ($6.2 billion), Ethiopia ($690 million), Kenya ($464 million), and Libya ($287 million), and Congo ($166 million).

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2011 were: Cereals (wheat and corn) ($1.9 billion), Aircraft ($1.1 billion), Machinery ($886 million), Mineral Fuel ($606 million), and Vehicles (tanks) ($480 million).

Imports

U.S. goods imports from COMESA totaled $4.5 billion in 2011, a 24.5% decrease ($1.5 billion) from 2010.

Roughly 45% of U.S. imports from COMESA were from Egypt. The top U.S. import suppliers from COMESA for 2011 were: Egypt ($2.1 billion), Libya ($645 million) Congo, Dem Republic ($606 million), Kenya ($381 million), and Mauritius ($250 million).

The five largest import categories in 2011 were Mineral Fuel and Oil (crude) ($1.6 billion), Woven Apparel ($811 million), Knit Apparel ($651 million), Fertilizers ($289 million), and Spices, Tea, and Coffee (mostly coffee) ($266 million).

Trade Balance

East African Community (EAC)

The EAC, consisting of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, is one of the leading regional economic organizations in sub-Saharan Africa and has made great strides in recent years toward integrating the economies of its member states. It has established a free trade area and a customs union and is working toward a common market.

The United States has $1.5 billion in total (two way) goods trade with the Eastern African Community (EAC) during 2011. Exports totaled $969 million; Imports totaled $526 billion; The U.S. goods trade surplus with the EAC was $443 million in 2011.

Trade Agreements: The U.S. and the EAC have a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), signed in 2008. USTR’s Africa Office is also leading U.S. efforts to forge a new trade and investment partnership with the East African Community.

Exports

U.S. goods exports to the EAC in 2011 were $969 million, up 43.0% ($291 million) from 2010.

EAC countries combined are the United States‘ 83rd largest goods export market in 2011.

The U.S. export markets in EAC for 2011 were: Kenya ($464 million), Tanzania ($258 million), Rwanda ($120 million), Uganda ($94 million), and Burundi ($33 million).

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2011 were: Aircraft ($176 million), Machinery ($157 million), Cereals (wheat) ($82 million), Special Other (donated articles) ($65 million), and Optic and Medical Instruments ($53 million).

U.S. exports of agricultural products to EAC countries totaled $190 million in 2010. Leading categories include: Wheat ($69 million), Pulses ($23 million), and Vegetable Oils (excluding soybean oil) ($17 million).

Imports

U.S. goods imports from the EAC countries totaled $526 million in 2011, up 20.5% ($90 million) from 2010.

EAC countries combined are the United States’ 94th largest goods import supplier in 2011.

The U.S. import suppliers from the EAC for 2011 were: Kenya ($381 million), Tanzania ($58 million), Uganda ($46 million), Rwanda ($31 million), and Burundi ($10 million).

The five largest import categories in 2011 were: Knit Apparel ($149 million), Spices, Coffee, and Tea (mostly coffee) ($143 million), Woven Apparel ($118 million), Edible Fruit and Nuts (macadamia nuts) ($32 million), and Special Other (returns ($33 million).

U.S. imports of agricultural products from EAC countries totaled $209 million in 2010. Leading categories include: Coffee (unroasted) ($131 million), and Tree Nuts ($33 million).

Balance of Merchandise Trade

The U.S. goods trade surplus with EAC was $ 443 million in 2011, a 83.6% increase ($202 million) over 2010.

Southern African Customs Union (SACU)

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU), an African regional economic organization, is the world's oldest customs union, founded in 1910. Its members include Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland. The five member states maintain a common external tariff, share customs revenues, and coordinate policies and decision-making on a wide range of trade issues.

The United States has $18.2 billion in total (two-ways) goods trade with SACU countries during 2010. Goods exports totaled $7.5 billion; Imports totaled $10.7 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with SACU countries was $3.2 billion in 2011.

Exports

U.S. goods exports to SACU in 2011 were $7.5 billion, up 28.9% ($1.7 billion) from 2010.

The SACU countries, together rank 35th as an export market for the United States in 2011.

Roughly 97% of U.S. exports to SACU went to South Africa in 2011. U.S. exports markets to SACU in 2011 were: South Africa ($7.3 billion) Namibia ($137 million), Botswana ($44 million), Swaziland ($20 million), and Lesotho ($13 million).

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2011 were: Machinery ($1.7 billion), Vehicles ($1.1 billion), Precious Stones (gold) ($706 million), Mineral Fuel (oil) ($482 million), and Electrical Machinery ($451 million).

U.S. exports of agricultural products to SACU totaled $387 million in 2011. Leading categories are: Wheat ($104 million), Poultry Meats ($40 million), Vegetable Oils (excluding soybean) ($31 million), and Dairy Products ($23 million).

Imports

U.S. goods imports from SACU totaled $10.7 billion in 2011, up 19.0% ($1.7 billion) from 2010.

The SACU countries, together, rank 33rd as the largest supplier of imports to the United States in 2011.

Over 88% of U.S. imports from SACU were from South Africa. The U.S. import suppliers from SACU for 2011 were: South Africa ($9.5 billion), Namibia ($436 million), Lesotho ($384 million), Botswana ($293 million), and Swaziland ($89 million).

The five largest import categories in 2011 were: Precious Stones (platinum and diamonds) ($4.1 billion), Vehicles ($2.2 billion), Iron and Steel ($853 million), Ores, Slag, Ash (uranium)($596 million), and Machinery ($450 million).

U.S. imports of agricultural products from SACU totaled $213 million in 2011. Leading categories include: Fresh Fruit ($46 million), Wine and Beer ($45 million), Tree Nuts ($33 million), and Processed Fruit and Vegetables ($16 million).

Balance of Merchandise Trade

The U.S. goods trade deficit with SACU was $3.2 billion in 2011, up 0.8% ($26 million) from 2010

West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA)

Members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (also known by its French acronym UEMOA) are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. UEMOA member countries are working toward greater regional integration with unified external tariffs.

The United States has $3.0 billion in total (two-way) goods trade with UEMOA in 2011. Exports totaled $1.4 billion; Imports totaled $1.6 billion; The U.S. goods trade deficit with UEMOA was $234 million in 2011.

Exports

U.S. goods exports to UEMOA countries in 2011 were $1.4 billion, up 20.5% ($234 million) from 2010.

UEMOA countries combined are the United States‘ 73rd largest goods export market in 2011.

The U.S. export markets in UEMOA for 2011 were: Benin ($621 million), Senegal ($262 million), Togo ($214 million), Cote d’Ivoire ($130 million), Mali ($55 million), Niger ($45 million), Burkina Faso ($34 million), and Guinea Bissau ($12 million).

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2011 were: Vehicles ($659 million), Mineral Fuel (oil) ($174 million), Machinery ($104 million), Electrical Machinery ($82 million), and Plastic ($56 million).

U.S. exports of agricultural products to UEMOA countries totaled $82 million in 2011. Leading categories were: Rice ($21 million) and Vegetable Oil (excluding soybean oil) ($6 million).

Imports

U.S. goods imports from UEMOA countries totaled $1.6 billion in 2011, up 30.9% ($379 million) from 2010.

UEMOA countries combined would have been the United States‘ 72nd largest goods import supplier in 2011.

The U.S. import suppliers from UEMOA for 2011 were: Cote d’Ivoire ($1.3 billion), Niger ($289 million), Togo ($30 million), Senegal ($7 million), Mali ($4 million), Burkina Faso ($4 million), Benin ($2 million), and Guinea Bissau ($261 thousand).

The five largest import categories in 2011 were: Cocoa ($897 million), Mineral Fuel (oil) ($513 million), Rubber ($146 million), Wood ($14 million), and Edible Fruit and Nuts (cashews) ($6 million).

U.S. imports of agricultural products from UEMOA countries totaled $1.1 billion in 2011. Leading category was: Cocoa Beans ($767 million).

Balance of Merchandise Trade

The U.S. goods trade deficit with UEMOA was $234 million in 2011, up 165.1% ($146 million) from 2010.