Liberia

The Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) signed by the United States and Liberia establishes the commitment and medium to reduce barriers to trade and investment between the two countries.

Towards that end, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Florie Liser led a U.S. delegation to Monrovia, Liberia March 11-13, 2009, for a meeting of the U.S.-Liberia Trade and Investment Council.  Minister of Commerce & Industry Miata Beysolow co-chaired the meeting, which addressed challenges to bilateral trade, transportation and infrastructure needs, and trade capacity building assistance.

U.S.-Liberia Trade Facts

Liberia is currently the United States' 130th largest goods trading partner with $300 million in total (two way) goods trade during 2008. Goods exports totaled $157 million; Goods imports totaled $144 million.

Liberia is eligible for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).  However, the country did not utilize AGOA's trade preferences in 2008.

Exports

Liberia was the United States' 130th largest goods export market in 2008.

U.S. goods exports to Liberia in 2008 were $157 million, up 106.7% ($81 million) from 2007.

The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2008 were: Wood ($27 million), Vehicles ($25 million), Iron and Steel Products ($22 million), Special Other (articles donated for relief) ($16 million), and Machinery ($11 million).

U.S. agricultural exports in 2008 were $18 million.

Imports

Liberia was the United States' 119th largest supplier of goods imports in 2008.

U.S. goods imports from Liberia totaled $144 million in 2008, a 24.5% increase ($28 million) from 2007.

The five largest import categories in 2008 were: Rubber ($141 million), Precious Stones (diamonds) ($2 million), Special Other (returns) ($365 thousand), Fats and Oils ($253 thousand), and Fish and Seafood (yellow fin tunas) ($212 thousand).

U.S. agricultural imports in 2008 were $141 million. Leading category include: rubber and allied products ($141 million).

Trade Capacity Building (TCB) Assistance

In 2008, Liberia received over $18.2 million in TCB assistance from the United States.  The largest portion of this funding was administered by USAID and focused on physical infrastructure and WTO agreement implementation programs.

Investment

U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Liberia (stock) was $456 million in 2007 (latest data available), up 73.4% from 2006.