Access USA

Exports

1. U.S. goods exports to Cote d'Ivoire $309 million
   •  Down 3.9% ($13 million) from 2017 but
   •  Up 21.8% from 2008.
2. The top export categories:
   • mineral fuels ($67 million),
   • plastics ($52 million)
   • organic chemicals ($45 million)
   • machinery ($31 million)
   • vehicles ($16 million).
3.  Agricultural exports $24 million
4.  Leading domestic export categories : rice ($10 million), condiments & sauces ($9 million), processed vegetables ($1 million), beef & beef products ($1 million), and prepared food ($1 million).

Imports

Totaled imports from Cote d'Ivoire - $1.2 billion (the top import categories):

1. Cocoa ($734 million),
2. Mineral fuels ($372 million),
3. Rubber ($92 million)
4. Edible fruit & nuts (coconut, brazil, cashews) ($24 million)
5. Wood and wood products ($7 million).

Total agricultural imports from Cote d'Ivoire-  $851 million (leading categories):

1. Cocoa beans ($608 million),
2. Cocoa paste & cocoa butter ($113 million)
3. Rubber & allied products ($92 million)
4. Tree nuts ($24 million)
5. Snack foods ($13 million).

Trade Balance

The U.S. goods trade deficit with Cote d'Ivoire was $937 million in 2018, a 4.8% increase ($43 million) over 2017. Source: Office of the United States Trade Representative, CIV https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/africa/west-africa/cote-divoire; U.S. Department of State, U.S. Relations with CIV https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-cote-divoire/

U.S.-CIV Trade Agreements

African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

Since October 2011, Côte d'Ivoire has been eligible for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Program. It is a commercial law of the American federal government, favoring access to the American market for products from some forty African countries, including Côte d'Ivoire. As part of the promotion of trade and investment between the United States of America and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, the United States Government promulgated, on May 18, 2000, the Law on Growth and Economic Opportunities in Africa (AGOA). This advantage grants eligible countries preferential access for their products to the U.S. market free of customs duties and quotas. This law, initially passed, expiring at the end of 2008, has been extended until 2015. Côte d'Ivoire is one of the 37 countries of sub-Saharan Africa eligible for AGOA. A country's eligibility for AGOA is renewed from year to year, depending on its performance in good governance, economic liberalism, respect for workers' rights, etc. Particularly for Côte d'Ivoire, AGOA allows Ivorian exporting companies to gain competitiveness on the American market, meet performance requirements, benefit from partnerships with other American structures, obtain duty exemptions. Customs and quotas for over 6,400 products, including agricultural products, wine, electronics, textiles, mechanical parts, chemicals, steel, and other minerals. We can mention petroleum products, materials, industrial, artisanal, agricultural, fishery, and horticultural. Agricultural products include certain fruits and vegetables (mangoes, pineapples, tomatoes, oranges, dried onions, cucumbers, grapes, avocados, papayas), shea butter, wood, cashew nuts, coffee, etc. The following websites contain AGOA eligible products and other useful information for exporters of the products to the United States: www.agoa.gov; www.aphis.gov. According to the Ministry of Industry and the private sector, Ivorian companies must know the American market in its regulatory and marketing aspect and have the necessary documents for export to export to the United States. The establishment of websites and mediated debates will contribute to the implementation of effective communication and partnership research strategies. The private sector in Côte d'Ivoire is called upon to seize the opportunities offered by AGOA by organizing itself in association or in the industry to develop its resources to increase the volume of exports to the United States.

The USAID West Africa Trade and Investment Hub

In West Africa, a region of more than 360 million people, the immense potential of economies and workforces has been hindered by political instability, roadblocks to investment, and weak business networks. The Feed the Future, West Africa Trade and Investment Hub Activity, seeks to overcome these obstacles through a market-based approach to catalyze economic growth. The Trade Hub will attract private finance and investment, build links among businesses, and strengthen the agricultural and trade sectors in Nigeria, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and other West African countries. Nigeria, home to significant market opportunities and nearly half of West Africa's population, is uniquely positioned to transform its economy rapidly. The Trade Hub will, therefore, focus on expanding Nigeria's agricultural sector and increasing both production and profits of smallholder farmers. This "farms and firms" approach will improve farming practices by utilizing technology to boost production and strengthen the links between producers and markets across several value chains in Nigeria, including maize, rice, soybean, cowpea, and aquaculture. As part of Feed the Future, the U.S. Government's global hunger and food security initiative, the Trade Hub's activities will seek to make smallholder farmers more food secure and raise household incomes. The Trade Hub's activities will promote inclusive economic growth, creating opportunities for West African women to raise their household incomes, gain new skills, and start and grow small businesses. It will also leverage other private entities interested in investing in youth and women to co-create sustainable initiatives for long-term youth and women's employment. Over five years, the Trade Hub will administer $60 million in co-investment funds to attract private-sector investment of $300 million, improve business operations and capacity to tap into export markets, and do business with U.S. and international companies. The Trade Hub will increase access to financing and assist firms in raising their standards for more significant exports.

CIV Mission to Washington

CIV maintains an embassy in Washington, D.C., where services offered to Ivorians include the facilitation of trade and investment missions to and from CIV and providing of information on trade and investment opportunities in the U.S. More specifically, CIV's State Department for Trade, through its foreign mission, provides additional support, including the analysis of import/export regulations, performing market research, and following up on the application of the trade agreements that exist between the U.S. and CIV. For more information, visit the website of the Embassy of CIV in the US. Http://www.ambaciusa.org/Site/

U.S. Embassy

For more information about the U.S. Embassy in CIV, please visit their website https://ci.usembassy.gov/

Non-immigrant visa

Non-immigrant visas are for people who wish to temporarily go to the United States for tourism, business, temporary work, study, or medical treatment. Visa Category (B) VISITOR: BUSINESS, TOURISM, MEDICAL TREATMENT visa category is intended for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B1), including attending professional meetings or conference; for pleasure, including vacation or visiting family or medical treatment (B2), or a combination of both (B1/B2) purposes for up to six months. Visa Category (C) TRANSITING in the U.S. is for individuals traveling between two foreign countries that must make a connection in the United States as part of that trip. Visa Category (E1/E2) TREATY, TRADER / TREATY INVESTOR, is for a national of a country with which the United States maintains a treaty of commerce and navigation which is coming to the United States to carry on substantial trade, including trade in services or technology, principally between the United States and the treaty country, or to develop and direct the operations of an enterprise in which the national has invested, or is in the process of investing a substantial amount of capital. For a list of participating countries, refer to The E1 non-immigrant classification allows nationals of a treaty country to be admitted to the United States solely to engage in international trade on their behalf. The E2 non-immigrant type allows a national of a treaty country to be admitted to the United States when investing substantial capital in a U.S. business. Source: U.S. Embassy in CIV https://ci.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/

Immigrant Visas

To apply for an immigrant visa, a foreign citizen seeking to immigrate generally must be sponsored by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident immediate relative(s), or prospective U.S. employer, and have an approved petition before applying for an immigrant visa.