The Biden administration is ending Ethiopia's special trade status under U.S. law.
The Biden administration is ending Ethiopia's special trade status under U.S. law -- the latest penalty imposed on the Ethiopian government amid its ongoing war with the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, the regional force that once controlled the federal government.
A State Department spokesperson declined to speak to a possible genocide declaration, but told ABC News they are"deeply alarmed by the continuing violence in northern Ethiopia" and"undertaking a review of available facts to assess whether atrocity crimes have been committed." While those first sanctions could come soon, it's the suspension of Ethiopia's trade status under the African Growth and Opportunity Act on Tuesday that marked a new step. In a message to Congress, President Joe Biden said Ethiopia's"gross violations of internationally recognized human rights" made it ineligible for AGOA under the law.
Events on the ground, however, show the war is heading in the opposite direction. Abiy's government declared a national state of emergency Tuesday amid concern that the Tigrayan Defense Forces may move on the capital Addis Ababa after seizing towns just 160 miles to the northeast, according to the Associated Press.
The United Nations has estimated that 2,000 trucks of aid are needed per month to deal with the humanitarian crisis, but just 1,100 trucks have entered in total since the beginning of July -- 13% of what's required -- per Feltman. "We have this fact and law-based review underway. We have pushed it at a very accelerated pace, and it is far advanced. The Secretary needs to make a decision, and when he's ready, I'm sure that will happen," acting Assistant Secretary Godec told the House Foreign Affairs Committee in a statement.