Botswana

Trade Agreements: The U.S. and the Southern Africa Customs Union (SACU), which includes Botswana, signed a Trade, Investment, and Development Cooperative Agreement (TIDCA) in 2008. The TIDCA establishes a forum for consultative discussions, cooperative work, and possible agreements on a wide range of trade issues, with a special focus on customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, and trade and investment promotion. The TIDCA was developed at the conclusion of active Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the U.S. and SACU, which were suspended in 2006 due to divergent views on the scope and level of ambition for an FTA.

U.S.-Botswana Trade Facts

Botswana is currently our 137th largest goods trading partner with $217 million in total (exports plus imports) goods trade during 2010. Goods exports totaled $47 million; Goods imports totaled $170 million. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Botswana was $123 million in 2010.

Exports

Botswana was the United States' 162nd largest goods export market in 2010.

U.S. goods exports to Botswana in 2010 were $47 million, down 49.4% from 2009.

The top export categories (2-digit HS) for 2010 were: Special Other Category (low value shipments) ($23 million), Vehicles ($7 million), Aircraft ($4 million), Machinery ($3 million), and Electrical Machinery ($2 million).

Imports

Botswana was the United States' 115th largest supplier of goods imports in 2010.

U.S. goods imports from Botswana totaled $170 million in 2010, a 28.7% increase from 2009.

The five largest import categories in 2010 were: Precious Stones (diamonds) ($155 million), Knit Apparel ($6 million), Woven Apparel ($6 million), Special Other (reimports and returns) ($3 million), and Optic and Medical Instruments ($83,000).

Trade Balance

The U.S. goods trade deficit with Botswana was $123 million in 2010, a 216.8% increase over 2009.