Sele Media Africa
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Reported by Amos Dachung (Sele Media Africa Reporter)
Kenya Eyes US Trade Deal by Year‑End, Seeks Five‑Year Extension to AGOA
Nairobi — Kenya has announced ambitious plans to finalize a bilateral trade agreement with the United States by the end of 2025, while also pressing Washington to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by at least five more years. AGOA currently grants duty‑free access for qualifying African goods into U.S. markets, but is set to expire later this year. [1]
What Kenya Is Proposing
• Speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, President William Ruto said Kenya expects to sign a trade agreement with the U.S. by the end of the year. He added that he will urge U.S. officials to renew AGOA for a minimum of five years, calling it a vital platform to deepen U.S.–Africa trade ties. [1]
• Trade Minister Lee Kinyanjui echoed the urgency, emphasizing that Kenya is working to cushion its export sectors, particularly textiles, apparel, and agricultural produce, from the repercussions of AGOA’s possible expiry.
• AGOA has underpinned much of Kenya’s export market to the U.S., supporting jobs in the apparel and textile industries. Its lapse could impose tariffs on Kenyan exports, making them less competitive. [3]
• A bilateral agreement—if it mirrors the benefits of AGOA—could provide continuity in trade access and stability for Kenyan exporters. [1]
• However, extension of AGOA faces uncertainty in U.S. Congress, particularly given shifting trade policy under the current administration.
