The United States of America is considering the elimination of export subsidies on agricultural products following complaints by African countries of unfair competition on the international market.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra after a breakfast meeting with members of the American Chamber of Commerce and Editors in Accra on Wednesday, Donald Evans, Secretary of Commerce, said the US has already laid an aggressive plan to lead the way towards the elimination of export subsidies.

He said the plan for the process, which will run for five years, also seeks to reduce high tariffs on exports from Africa.

Evans is leading an 11-member delegation of US firms on a two-day business development mission in Ghana. "America has suggested that all around the world, developed countries must continue to bring tariffs down over the five year period," he added.

Secretary Evans said the complaints from Africa require necessary changes that have been brought to the realisation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to institute measures to eliminate domestic subsidies and to reduce tariffs. He said the US expects the WTO to work to encourage other countries to agree to the suggestion.