Africa and The Middle East

Kenya must focus on improving logistics to ensure a trade deal with the U.S. can function as intended, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Kyle McCarter and Betty Maina, Kenya’s trade and industrialization minister, said on Monday.

The U.S. and Kenya on Wednesday kicked off a two-week first round of trade talks and agreed on a framework for U.S. technical assistance and capacity-building efforts in Kenya, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

Kenya will need capacity-building assistance from the U.S. to raise its standards and meet U.S. expectations for a bilateral trade deal, a Kenyan official told the U.S. International Trade Commission on Tuesday.

“Due to COVID-19, the AGOA Subcommittee will foster public participation via written submissions rather than an in-person hearing.”

As the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative works to nail down negotiating objectives for a trade deal with Kenya, Brionne Dawson, the senior director for East and Southern Africa at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and other industry groups are citing digital trade as an area with huge potential for both countries.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Tuesday notified Capitol Hill that the Trump administration plans to negotiate a comprehensive trade deal with Kenya, setting up the start of negotiations as early as mid-June.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer this week will consult with House and Senate advisory groups before officially notifying Congress of the administration’s intent to initiate trade talks with Kenya, he told Inside U.S. Trade on Wednesday.

“We cannot wait until AGOA is gone then our trade collapses, we have to prepare,” said Agriculture Secretary Peter Munya.