In response to appeals to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), the U.S. State Department said that the anti-homosexuality bill being considered by the Ugandan Parliament is “a serious affront to internationally accepted human rights standards.”

Per a press release, the finding would impact the country’s eligibility for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a “unilateral program that eliminates tariffs on African goods destined for the U.S.”

Additionally, in the letter to Wyden the Department of State announced the launch of an inquiry into the practices of all African nations regarding rights afforded to GLBT populations, and the establishment of a task force to address GLBT issues worldwide.

“The best trade policy is designed to improve human living standards, and AGOA does this,” Wyden said. “The Ugandan attack on their homosexual population is an offense against human liberty and must be opposed at every opportunity. This trade law presents just such an opportunity.”

Wyden, chair of the Senate Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness, sent a letter to Secretary Clinton and USTR Kirk on January 12, asking the State Department to review the Ugandan proposal and communicate with President Yoweri Museveni that passage of the bill will affect Uganda’s beneficiary status under AGOA.

Under AGOA, beneficiaries must meet certain eligibility criteria, including not engaging in “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.”

Copies of both the State Department letter and Wyden’s original letter are available online.