Friday, August 2, 2024 – Political uncertainty and tension in both the United States of America and Kenya have forced U.S. President Joe Biden and his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, to rush to finalize a trade deal.
Kenya and the U.S. are gearing up
for a pivotal seventh round of negotiations under the Strategic Trade and
Investment Partnership (STIP), set to take place in Nairobi next week.
The urgency of the talks
reflects both countries' desire to finalize a deal before the expiration of the
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) next year.
The talks will take place from
Monday, August 5 to Friday, August 9.
This upcoming round of
negotiations, steered by Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Constance Hamilton
and Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Trade Alfred K’Ombudo, will address
critical issues such as agriculture, customs, trade facilitation, the
environment, good regulatory practices, inclusivity, and workers' rights and
protections.
Both delegations aim to wrap up
the discussions by the end of the year, a deadline looming large as November's
U.S. elections approach.
The strategic importance of this
trade deal cannot be overstated. AGOA, which has facilitated duty-free access
to the US market for various African products since its enactment in 2000, is
set to expire next year. This could leave Kenya in limbo if no new deal is signed.
While Kenya has benefitted,
particularly in the apparel sector, there are concerns that the Act’s expiry
might jeopardize broader trade interests within regional blocs like the Common
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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