Kenya has welcomed a proposal by the United States administration to extend the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) for an additional year, a move that is currently under review by the US Congress. The extension is seen as a vital step to maintain uninterrupted trade access while both sides work toward a stronger long-term trade framework.
The development followed high-level talks in Washington, DC, where Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia W. Mudavadi, who also handles foreign and diaspora affairs, accompanied President William Ruto in a meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
Greer stated that the proposed one-year extension would give the US administration adequate time to design a more resilient, future-ready AGOA framework that better reflects the evolving trade and investment priorities of both nations.
Kenya and US Eye Broader Trade Partnership
Mudavadi stressed that the engagement went beyond the immediate extension of AGOA. Kenya and the United States are now laying the groundwork for a new, forward-looking bilateral trade arrangement, aimed at elevating economic cooperation to a higher level. The envisioned framework is expected to improve predictability for investors, unlock wider market access, and establish a modern, mutually beneficial partnership aligned with both countries’ long-term ambitions.
Both sides also identified several high-growth sectors with strong potential for expanded cooperation. These include apparel and textiles, agriculture, leather and footwear, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, as well as information and communication technology (ICT) and digital services.
According to the Kenyan government, these sectors are expected to generate quality employment, boost export earnings, attract new investments, and strengthen value chains across Kenya’s economy.
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