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Washington - The United States wants to boost trade with African countries to fight poverty on the continent and expand markets for US exports, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said on Tuesday.
"The Obama administration is committed to a strong partnership with African countries on trade," Kirk said in a statement after his first meeting with an African counterpart. "We know that expanded trade can make an important contribution to boosting growth and reducing poverty in Africa."
Kirk, the first black to hold the job of US trade representative, was confirmed by the Senate last week.
He met on Tuesday with Mozambican Commerce and Industry Minister Antonio Fernando as part of a government-to-government forum created in 2005 to increase trade and investment.
"Economic growth in developing countries, like Mozambique, also benefits the American economy by expanding markets for American exporters," Kirk said.
Two-way trade between the United States and Mozambique nearly doubled in 2008 to $229m.
The southeast African country is a minor market for US energy products, wheat, trucks, tractors and other goods.
Mozambique exported $16.8m of ore, cashews, semi-precious stones and other products to the United States in 2008. Most entered the United States duty free because of various US trade preference programmes, USTR said.
The United States committed $224m in assistance last year to help Mozambique support small-scale farmers, improve land administration, support trade policy reforms and improve the country's business environment, USTR said.
- Reuters