Kenya, US Want to Conclude Trade Talks This Year

The U.S. and Kenya committed to try to conclude the U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment partnership by the end of the year, they said in a joint statement.

"We believe bilateral trade and investment ties are the foundation of our joint prosperity. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is the cornerstone of the U.S. trade relationship with Kenya and across sub-Saharan Africa, and we would welcome its timely reauthorization. AGOA is about more than just trade: it supports policies to reduce poverty, combat corruption, and promote respect for human rights and workers’ rights," they said.

They said that Kenya's apparel sector exports to the U.S. are now worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year. "Ongoing investments by [the U.S. Agency for International Development] and the Kenyan private sector are expected to generate an additional $250 million in apparel exports to the United States and create over 20,000 new jobs. Crucially, these investments diversify U.S. supply chains and empower Kenya's apparel sector by developing domestic production of packaging, labeling, and other essential materials."