Browse Data and Analysis

This report is designed to be an introduction to the political, economic, and trade situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC is the second largest country in Africa and boasts one of the largest population on the continent.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) offers significant growth potential for U.S. food and beverage exporters, driven by its large population and increasing urbanization, U.S. agricultural and related product exports to the DRC are rising, with strong demand for wheat, poultry, vegetable oil, and rice.

This is a regional report on West Africa that primarily covers Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Mali, but also provides brief overviews in certain sections for Niger, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Mauritania.

On September 21, 2022, Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry issued administrative decree number 1895 for the year 2022 adopting a regionalization model to the county level for U.S. outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI). The decree lifted a previous ban on all non-heat treated poultry meat (fresh, chilled, frozen, and processed), poultry products and table eggs from 24 U.S. states. The decree also includes changes for other trade partners. An unofficial translation for the decree is included in this report.

On May 5, 2022, trade and finance ministers from East African Community (EAC) member countries agreed to raise minimum common external tariffs from 25 to 35 percent on several agricultural products.

In September 2021, the Government of Niger signed the ministerial decree that defines the composition, organization, and function of the National Technical and Scientific Committee on Biosafety (CTSNB).

Overall U.S. agricultural and related product exports to the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait (GCC-4) are higher by 3 percent from January to March 2021 compared to the same time last year.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional political and economic treaty organization comprised of the Arabian Gulf nations of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

The Government of Senegal is reviewing and revising its new biosafety law which may include language for an expedited approval process for certain genetically engineered (GE) products.

Update on Kuwait bans on U.S. food products.

Update on Kuwait bans on U.S. food products.

Since January 2014, the Burkinabe National Biosafety Agency (NBA) has been converting the status of the organization to a technical and scientific public institution (EPSET) for greater autonomy.