On March 29, 2013, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) published a press release announcing that a possible Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) is being studied between the U.S. and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The release explains that "the proposed U.S.-ECOWAS TIFA would build on the U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, which ... calls for more enhanced and focused engagement on trade and investment between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa and recognizes trade and investment as a critical engine for broad economic growth."

President Obama met with the leaders of Sierra Leone, Senegal and Cape Verde, all member states of ECOWAS, on March 28. The press release notes that exploring the possibility of a U.S.-ECOWAS TIFA is one initiative among others towards increasing trade and investment between both regions.

The full text of the press release can be accessed online here.