To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and for Other Purposes

Proclamation 9834 of December 21, 2018 To Take Certain Actions Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and for Other Purposes A Proclamation 1. In Proclamation 8468 of December 23, 2009, the President designated the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Mauritania) as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the “Trade Act”), as added by section 111(a) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (title I of Public Law 106-200 , 114 Stat. 251). 2. Section 506A(a)(3) of the Trade Act ( 19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3) ) authorizes the President to terminate the designation of a country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A if he determines that the country is not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act. 3. Pursuant to section 506A(a)(3) of the Trade Act, I have determined that Mauritania is not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act. Accordingly, I have decided to terminate the designation of Mauritania as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A of the Trade Act, effective January 1, 2019. 4. On April 22, 1985, the United States and Israel entered into the Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Israel (the “USIFTA”), which the Congress approved in section 3 of the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 (the “USIFTA Act”) ( 19 U.S.C. 2112 note ). 5. Section 4(b) of the USIFTA Act provides that, whenever the President determines that it is necessary to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, the President may proclaim such withdrawal, suspension, modification, or continuance of any du…