--- kind: "section" citation: "19 U.S.C. § 3704" title: "19" title_heading: "Customs Duties" number: "3704" heading: "United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/3704" units: - "Chapter 23 — Extension of Certain Trade Benefits to Sub-Saharan Africa" - "Subchapter I — Trade Policy for Sub-Saharan Africa" --- # §3704. United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum - (a) **Declaration of policy—** The President shall convene annual high-level meetings between appropriate officials of the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) Government and officials of the governments of sub-Saharan African [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) in order to foster close economic ties between the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) and sub-Saharan Africa. - (b) **Establishment—** Not later than 12 months after May 18, 2000, the President, after consulting with Congress and the governments concerned, shall establish a [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9)-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (in this section referred to as the “Forum”). - (c) **Requirements—** In creating the Forum, the President shall meet the following requirements: - (1) The President shall direct the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) of Commerce, the [Secretary](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) of the Treasury, the Secretary of State, and the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) to host the first annual meeting with their counterparts from the governments of sub-Saharan African [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) eligible under [section 3703 of this title](/usc/19/3703.md), and those sub-Saharan African [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) that the President determines are taking substantial positive steps towards meeting the eligibility requirements in [section 3703 of this title](/usc/19/3703.md). The purpose of the meeting shall be to discuss expanding trade and investment relations between the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) and sub-Saharan Africa and the implementation of this chapter including encouraging joint ventures between small and large businesses. The President shall also direct the [Secretaries](/usc/19/1681.md?p=1) and the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) [Trade Representative](/usc/19/1677.md?p=32) to invite to the meeting representatives from appropriate sub-Saharan African regional organizations and government officials from other appropriate [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) in sub-Saharan Africa. - (2) - (A) The President, in consultation with the Congress, shall encourage [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) nongovernmental organizations to host annual meetings with nongovernmental organizations from sub-Saharan Africa in conjunction with the annual meetings of the Forum for the purpose of discussing the issues described in [paragraph (1)](#c-1). - (B) The President, in consultation with the Congress, shall encourage [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) representatives of the private sector to host annual meetings with representatives of the private sector from sub-Saharan Africa in conjunction with the annual meetings of the Forum for the purpose of discussing the issues described in [paragraph (1)](#c-1). - (3) The President shall, to the extent practicable, meet with the heads of governments of sub-Saharan African [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) eligible under [section 3703 of this title](/usc/19/3703.md), and those sub-Saharan African [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) that the President determines are taking substantial positive steps toward meeting the eligibility requirements in [section 3703 of this title](/usc/19/3703.md), not less than once every 2 years for the purpose of discussing the issues described in [paragraph (1)](#c-1). The first such meeting should take place not later than 12 months after May 18, 2000. - (d) **Dissemination of information by USIS—** In order to assist in carrying out the purposes of the Forum, the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) Information [Service](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=4) shall disseminate regularly, through multiple media, economic information in support of the free market economic reforms described in this chapter. - (e) **HIV/AIDS effect on the sub-Saharan African workforce—** In selecting issues of common interest to the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9)-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum, the President shall instruct the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) delegates to the Forum to promote a review by the Forum of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in each sub-Saharan African [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) and the effect of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on economic development in each [country](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3). ## Source credit (Pub. L. 106–200, title I, § 105, May 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 255.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (c)(1) and (d), was in the original “this title”, meaning title I of Pub. L. 106–200, May 18, 2000, 114 Stat. 252, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3701 of this title and Tables.