Two House Democrats have introduced legislation that would direct the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to establish a strategic agreement with the African Continental Free Trade Area secretariat.

The “U.S.-Africa Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership Act of 2024″ (ASTIP), introduced this week by House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee members Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL) and Jonathan Jackson (IL), would direct The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the secretariat to “develop an ambitious roadmap for enhanced cooperation, with the goal of negotiating high-standard commitments in order to achieve economically meaningful outcomes” in a dozen areas.

The “ASTIP” would cover agriculture, anti-corruption, digital trade, environment, good regulatory practices, inclusive trade, intellectual property, manufacturing, micro- small and medium-sized enterprises, standards setting, trade facilitation and workers’ rights, according to the bill.

Rep Cherfilus-McCormick said in a May 7 statement that the “U.S.-Africa Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership Act of 2024″ is aimed at supporting the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), creating a mutually beneficial partnership between Africa and the U.S. that will “promote prosperity, create long-term job opportunities on both continents, and preserve democracy and peace.”