Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with Panama’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Federico Alfaro and Minister of Foreign Affairs Janaina Tewaney. The three discussed how commercial relations between the United States and Panama could be strengthened, particularly in the areas of nearshoring, sound trade and investment policies, and collaborating to create stronger, more...

On December 15, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo addressed the 2022 U.S.-Africa Business Forum and echoed President Biden’s ongoing commitment to deepening business ties and advancing two-way trade investments between the U.S. and Africa. Later in the day, she joined the President as he announced $15 billion in two-way trade and investment commitments, deals, and partnerships. “President Biden has...

Yesterday, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo hosted a virtual Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) ministerial. IPEF Ministers welcomed the progress made during the first IPEF negotiating last week in Brisbane, Australia, and thanked Australia for hosting the meetings. The Ministers had productive discussions on the economic benefits of IPEF membership and reaffirmed their...

Yesterday, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with Prime Minister Aymen Benabderrahmane of Algeria at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum. During the meeting, Secretary Raimondo congratulated Prime Minister Benabderrahmane on a successful Algerian International Fair (FIA). She also expressed her gratitude to the fair organizers for naming the United States as the Country of Honor at the FIA. The...

Yesterday, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union. During their meeting, the Secretary and President discussed strengthening commercial ties including through ongoing collaboration on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Initiative and other initiatives to deepen the U.S.-Senegal trade and investment...

Good morning! Thank you to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Corporate Council on Africa, along with the U.S. Department of Commerce team, for their work to organize today’s events. To the honorable heads of state, ministers from across the African continent, welcome. I am deeply honored to have you here at the 2022 U.S.-Africa Business Forum. I also want to welcome industry leaders from the U...

Yesterday at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with Prime Minster Patrick Achi of Côte d’Ivoire. During the meeting, Secretary Raimondo expressed the United States’ support for Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan (PND), which lays out Côte d’Ivoire’s strategy to promote increased trade and investment. The Secretary welcomed the potential for the PND to...

Yesterday, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo held a teleconference with her Japanese counterpart, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura. During their meeting, the Secretary and Minister discussed ongoing collaboration on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), which will have its first round of in-person negotiations in Brisbane, Australia, between...