NOUAKCHOTT: Mauritania reacted furiously Monday after the United States pulled its status as a preferential trade partner, accusing the West African state of tolerating forced labour and hereditary slavery.

The decision, made by Washington last Friday, will terminate Mauritania’s eligibility for trade preference starting January 1.

Mauritanian government spokesman Mohamed Ould Maham lashed the move Monday on Twitter, calling it “a betrayal of the friendly relations between our countries and a denial of our efforts” to roll back slavery practices.

He pointed to President Donald Trump’s posture towards Saudi Arabia, implying that Riyadh — under fire over the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi — got soft treatment because of its purchases of US weapons.

“Would Trump have taken this decision if he was expecting a $110 billion (96.5 billion euro) arms contract with us?” he asked rhetorically.

The United States said the decision was based on an annual review of eligibility under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which requires African countries to improve rule of law and uphold respect for human rights and labour standards.—AFP