United States And Kenya Launch Trade Agreement Negotiations
On July 8, the United States and Kenya formally launched free trade agreement negotiations.
In a joint statement by the two countries, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said that “we look forward to negotiating and concluding a comprehensive, high-standard agreement with Kenya that can serve as a model for additional agreements across Africa.”
Kenya Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization, Trade, and Enterprise Development Betty Maina underscored the importance of a “trade arrangement that is predictable and guarantees preferential market access for Kenyan products” and the need to attract investment from the United States to “improve vertical and horizontal linkages in the Kenyan economy.”
U.S. and Kenyan negotiators are engaging in the first round of virtual negotiations over the next two weeks, and the talks are expected to cover all aspects of a comprehensive trade agreement.