Skip to main content

US Government Diminishes Kenya’s Hopes for Bilateral Trade Pact

US President Joe Biden has no plans on negotiating bilateral trade deal between his administration and Kenya. This is after a disclosure made by United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai when she held a virtual meeting with Kenya’s Minister for Industrialization and Trade Betty Maina.
During the virtual meeting, Tai and Maina discussed various issues of mutual importance between Kenya and the US. Biden’s administration is keen on supporting African integration and sustenance of dialogue on key matters.
Biden’s administration supports African integration through African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA) rather than the ‘divisive’ trade deals that were advocated by Trump. 
AFCTA has been on course to achieve stronger economic integration among member states, being less dependent and building sustainable value chain in Africa.
Kenya government has been under intense criticism due its efforts of unilateral pursuance of foreign trade agreements to the detriment of regional and continental integration efforts. 
Biden’s administration under the guidance of ‘Build Back better’ seeks to prioritize trade as the pivotal turn-around tool to overcome the ruins of Covid-19 pandemic in building America’s economic recovery. The pursuit for domestic trade jeopardizes Kenya’s chance for free trade agreement with the US.

Kenya US Trade Relations

Kenya and United States entered into a trade deal under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which allowed African countries to export their products to the US without quotas or tariffs. Kenya hoped to secure a trade concession after the expiry of the AGOA trade agreement in 2025.
Former US President Donald Trump had announced plans to initiate trade agreement negotiations with the government of Kenya. Trump’s pronouncement came after a holding a meeting with Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on February 06, 2020.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kenyans surprised over UDA's 'Voters Repair' remarks for President Ruto 2027 reelection

 Kenyans are reacting strongly to remarks by some UDA leaders that many interpret as hints at election manipulation ("ukarabati ya kura" / "voters repair") ahead of the 2027 presidential election. What Happened On or around May 23, 2026, NTV Kenya and other outlets aired footage from a UDA meeting at Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula's home.  Leaders including Savula and MP Charles Gimose reportedly used phrases like "tutafanya ukarabati ya kura" (we will repair/do maintenance on the votes).  Some comments referenced high victory margins in places like Tanzania under Samia Suluhu or Museveni-style wins. This has been widely seen as implying plans to "fix" or pad results in favor of President William Ruto's reelection, rather than a literal call for better voter registration or system maintenance. Public Reaction 1. Surprise and outrage: Many Kenyans on X and social media expressed shock, viewing it as arrogant or desperate signaling am...
Post a Comment
Read more

How to commercialize your prototype innovation in Kenya

Commercializing a prototype in Kenya involves transforming your innovation from a proof-of-concept stage into a marketable product or service that generates revenue. This process requires protecting your intellectual property (IP), validating market demand, securing funding, and selecting the right business model.  Kenya has a supportive ecosystem with government agencies, grants, and innovation hubs to help.  Below is a step-by-step guide based on established practices and resources. 1. Protect Your Intellectual Property (IP) Before commercialization, safeguard your innovation to prevent copying. In Kenya, IP protection is handled by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI). Register your IP : File for patents, trademarks, copyrights, or industrial designs. Patents are crucial for inventions and provide a 20-year monopoly.  Start with a patent search to ensure novelty, then apply via KIPI's online portal. Costs range from KSh 3,000–50,000 depending on the type. Why...
Post a Comment
Read more

Important steps to be taken when buying Land in Kenya

  Land is a vital asset and acquiring it requires utmost caution to avoid finding yourself in a protracted, unending legal battle. As Kenya's economy bites, there has been increased cases of land fraud.  Land disputes have been so rampant, hence the need for advocacy of future land buyers to be cautious when undertaking land transfer processes. Factors to consider when purchasing land in Kenya 1. Do a land search at the ministry of lands. This enables you to confirm the real owner of the land and know whether it has any legal dispute, loan or unpaid tax. 2. Site visit: Make sure you see the land physically and confirm its boundaries. 3. Land verification: Verify the authenticity of the property at the land registry and confirm if it is freehold, leasehold or communal. 4. Sale agreement: Engage a lawyer and a surveyor for legally sound transaction. 5. Land transfer: Make sure the original titledeed is transferred from the name of the seller to your name. 6. Register your land w...
Post a Comment
Read more