![Mauritanian President Mohamed Cheikh El Ghazouani.](https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/us-mauritania-slavery-sahel-12132023-1.jpg?w=519&h=259&crop=1)
On Oct. 31, the Biden administration restored Mauritania’s trade preferences under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, despite Mauritania not having fully eradicated forced labor and slavery. A closer look at several other aspects of U.S.-Mauritania relations may shed light on the Biden administration’s decision.