Ethiopia - Trade AgreementsEthiopia - Trade Agreements

Describes bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that this country is party to, including with the United States. Includes websites and other resources where U.S. companies can get more information on how to take advantage of these agreements. Last Published: 10/30/2019

Ethiopia originally signed a Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations with the United States in 1951, which was updated in 1994. Ethiopia has no bilateral trade or investment agreement with the United States. However, it is eligible for preferential access to the U.S. market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). In 2015, Ethiopia was approved for AGOA privilege extension for the coming 10 years until 2025.

• Treaty Establishing the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) (Kampala, 5 November 1993)
• Agreement Establishing Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) (Nairobi, March 1996)
• African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group States (ACP)-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (Cotonou, 23 June 2000)
• At the continental level, Ethiopia has signed and ratified the Abuja Treaty that aims to establish an Africa Economic Community among the continents 54 countries.

Ethiopia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been underway since 2003. Ethiopia has held three working party meetings with the WTO Secretariat, submitted its goods offer in early 2012 and is still working on its services offer. While the new government has put a rewnewed emphasis on WTO accession, the timeline for completing that long and complicated process remains unclear.