encouraging increased trade and investment between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa;

reducing tariff and nontariff barriers and other obstacles to sub-Saharan African and United States trade;

expanding United States assistance to sub-Saharan Africa’s regional integration efforts;

negotiating reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade agreements, including the possibility of establishing free trade areas that serve the interests of both the United States and the countries of sub-Saharan Africa;

focusing on countries committed to the rule of law, economic reform, and the eradication of poverty;

strengthening and expanding the private sector in sub-Saharan Africa, especially enterprises owned by women and small businesses;

facilitating the development of civil societies and political freedom in sub-Saharan Africa;

establishing a United States-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum;

the accession of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions; and

promoting the role of women in social, political, and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa.