Annotation # 5. Assignment 12

Yohannes, Daniel W. "Africa Is Awakening, Helped by Free Trade." Wall Street Journal. 27 Jun 2011: A.15.
        SIRS Issues Reasearcher. Web. 21 Oct 2011.


        In this news journal they discuss how America is helping grow by reducing trade tariffs and trading with them to help their economy. It seems to me that the journalist however is trying to compare Africa to America which is not a Good comparison. America is built up and Africa is not. Africa is mostly farm lands with farmers who provide enough for their families and sometimes they can't even do that with the bad weather and droughts they get throughout the year. Although America does help them I don't think we are helping them for the right reasons and not always in the right ways.
         "America has always given generously to the cause of poverty reduction in Africa, but moral leadership is not the only interest at stake. Other nations seeking to gain a foothold in emerging African markets are investing heavily in their development. Now is not the time to back away. The economic future and national security of the U.S. are equally compelling reasons to invest in Africa's growth."  The journalist even admits to the U.S helping Africa to gain control in the market place. It isn't always about being a good nation and helping someone in need. If our country can benefit from it in some way than were usually willing to help out. 
        While the journalist did say "Six of the ten fastest growing economics of the last decade were in the sub-Saharan Africa," I believe this is only because a lot of the countries around the world already have a stable economy and establishes government or at least more so than Africa. "The African continent is experiencing a reawakening. Poverty and hungry are still widespread problems, but Africa's growing middle class is creating business and investment opportunities that are among the best in the world." He isn't saying it is the best already developed economy but it is the best investment since they are rapidly growing. Africa has so much potential, a fast growing economy, developing trade laws, and newly created jobs. With the development of Africans Growth and Opportunity Act, in 2000, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, trading with other countries has become easier and more achievable than before. The "AGOA reduces the tariffs that African exporters face in the U.S. markets while providing technical assistant to help them take advantage of the legislation." With these two acts in place more than 300,000 African jobs have been created. 
        I see this being a minor part of my final research paper. The news article wasn't as long as I was hoping it to be but he made a good point of how America just helps out other countries for a personal gain. It is from the Wall Street Journal so I think that gives it, its credibility and makes it reliable. I found this article through an online resource site that many other schools use.