On September 18, 2012, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) filed a notice and request for comments on the Federal Register in regards to the Annual Review of Country Eligibility for Benefits Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), in order to recommend eligibility for calendar year 2013.

According to the notice, "The President may designate a country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country eligible for both the additional GSP benefits and the textile and apparel benefits of the AGOA for countries meeting certain statutory requirements intended to prevent unlawful transshipment of such articles, if he determines that the country meets the eligibility criteria."

Some of the criteria listed by the USTR includes the establishment, or progress towards establishing, the following:

• A market-based economy
• The rule of law
• The right to due process
• The elimination to U.S. trade and investments
• A system to combat corruption and bribery
• Protection of internationally recognized worker rights

Comments will be received until October 12, 2012. The notice is scheduled to be published on the Federal Register on September 19, 2012.

The text of the notice is available online here.