Democrats in the US Congress are calling for the revival of an Obama-era business council in Africa as Washington looks to counter Beijing’s growing economic clout on the continent. In a letter to the Commerce Department, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi urged the reconstitution of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA) and new trade missions to offset China’s influence, which has pushed bilateral trade with Africa to $280 billion—four times that of the US. The council, first created in 2014, would counsel the president on how to strengthen US-Africa ties through commerce and lead high-level trade missions. This move comes in response to recent policies, including new tariffs and cuts to foreign aid, which analysts believe have driven African nations closer to Beijing and Moscow. Through renewed commercial diplomacy, the lawmakers hope to restore American relevance on the continent.
SEMAFOR
