AGOA Status: On October 31, 2019, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to terminate the eligibility of Cameroon for trade preference benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), as of January 1, 2020, due to gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.
Trade Agreements: The U.S. and Cameroon signed a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) in 1986 that came into force in 1989.
U.S.-Cameroon Trade Facts
In 2019, Cameroon GDP was an estimated $38.6 billion (current market exchange rates); real GDP was up by an estimated 3.7%; and the population was 26 million. (Source: IMF)
Cameroon is currently our 115th largest goods trading partner with $531 million in total (two way) goods trade during 2019. Goods exports totaled $200 million; goods imports totaled $330 million. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Cameroon was $130 million in 2019.
Exports
- Cameroon was the United States' 128th largest goods export market in 2019.
- U.S. goods exports to Cameroon in 2019 were $200 million, up 3.6% ($7 million) from 2018 and up 30.3% from 2009.
- The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: machinery ($58 million), electrical machinery ($23 million), plastics ($17 million), railway vehicles/equipment ($15 million), and vehicles ($10 million).
- U.S. total exports of agricultural products to Cameroon totaled $30 million in 2019. Leading domestic export categories include: vegetable oils (ex. soybean) ($6 million), pulses ($5 million), coarse grains (ex. corn) ($4 million), prepared food ($4 million), and rice ($3 million).
Imports
- Cameroon was the United States' 101st largest supplier of goods imports in 2019.
- U.S. goods imports from Cameroon totaled $330 million in 2019, up 50.6% ($111 million) from 2018, and up 32.3% from 2009.
- The top import categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: mineral fuels ($245 million), wood and wood products ($33 million), cocoa ($19 million), special other (returns) ($9 million), and rubber ($9 million).
- U.S. total imports of agricultural products from Cameroon totaled $33 million in 2019. Leading categories include: cocoa paste & cocoa butter ($18 million), rubber & allied products ($9 million), tobacco ($2 million), cocoa beans ($2 million), and processed fruit & vegetables ($1 million).
Trade Balance
- The U.S. goods trade deficit with Cameroon was $130 million in 2019, a 395.4% increase ($104 million) over 2018.
Investment
- Data on U.S. FDI in Cameroon are unavailable
- No data on Cameroon's FDI in the U.S. are available.
NOTE: No services trade data with Cameroon are available.
