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 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).

South Asia, which includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, accounts for 24 percent of the world’s population, with 1.84 billion people in 2019.

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.

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.

A strong economic outlook, growing middle class and surging demand for consumer-oriented foods make Sub-Saharan Africa one of the fastest-growing regions for U.S. agricultural exports.