May 30,2023

Wyden Statement on Uganda Anti-LGBTQI+ Law

Washington, D.C.—Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called on President Biden to revoke key trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) from Uganda in response to an extreme new law that would punish LGBTQI+ individuals with jail or even the death penalty:

“The United States must not extend trade benefits to countries that violate human rights by sanctioning violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. I call on President Biden to immediately suspend Uganda’s AGOA benefits, and work with our allies to remove similar benefits, until Uganda repeals its cruel anti-LGBTQI+ law and improves its record on human rights, corruption and rule of law.”

Wyden urged U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken last month to revoke Uganda’s trade benefits under AGOA if this bill was enacted.

A web version of this release is here.

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Contact: Keith Chu