<B>About TIFA?

The United States Government lauds Mr Roopun?s support (in ?Armes inégales?, on February 7) for a resumption of the Doha Development Round of trade negociations to achieve ambitious outcomes to benefit the entire world. Mauritius plays an important and constructive role in these negotiations, which are set to resume in the coming weeks.

But progress ? or even success ? in the Doha Round is not a substitute for closer bilateral commercial relations, as implied by Mr Roopun in his opinon. The US and Mauritius signed a Framework Agreement (TIFA) to pursue deeper commercial ties. The successfull TIFA Council meeting February 5-6 identified many opportunities to reach this goal, to the mutual advantage of both countries.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which is separate from the TIFA, allows Mauritius and 37 other African countries to export duty free into the United States about 6 400 items. A small percentage of these items are textile or apparel. The US Government is working closely with the Mauritian government and business community to expand the range, quantity, and value of items exported by Mauritius to the US under Agoa.

<B>Victoria DELONG</B> Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy