US stops trade agreement with Gambia over gay rights

The US has cancelled a trade agreement with Gambia over the country’s abuse of human rights.

Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, the West African country was previously able to export goods of up to $37 million dollars (£24 million) each year to the US duty-free.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Trade Representative told Buzzfeed on Wednesday (December 24) that the decision to end the agreement was made in response to the country’s controversial anti-gay bill, which was signed into law by President Yahya Jammeh in October.

“The US Trade Representative (USTR) has been monitoring the human rights situation in The Gambia for the past few years, with deepening concerns about the lack of progress with respect to human rights, rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process,” said the Spokesperson.

They continued: “In addition, in October, Gambian President Jammeh signed into law legislation that further restricts the rights of LGBT individuals, including life imprisonment for so-called ‘aggravated homosexuality’.

“Reports have surfaced of arrests, detention, and torture of individuals because of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity,” they added.

Meanwhile, the FDA announced this week that they are set to reduce the US lifetime ban on gay men donating blood – find out more here.

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