U.S. doesn’t rule out more comprehensive trade negotiations with Kenya -official
By Andrea Shalal
(Reuters) – America has not dominated out extra complete commerce negotiations with Kenya after launching a strategic commerce and funding partnership with the African nation on Thursday, Deputy U.S. Commerce Consultant Sarah Bianchi advised Reuters.
Bianchi mentioned U.S. commerce officers considered the settlement with Kenya as a possible mannequin for different international locations. Officers would focus in coming months on hammering out high-standard agreements in areas equivalent to agriculture security and digital commerce requirements, local weather change and customs procedures.
She mentioned there may very well be future talks on a broader take care of Kenya, as U.S. Home Methods and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal has instructed, however mentioned the following “a number of months” can be targeted on the just-announced partnership.
“We’ve not dominated out doing extra complete negotiations,” Bianchi advised Reuters in an interview, when requested if Washington might pursue a free commerce settlement with Kenya. “Our purpose proper now’s to develop the bilateral relationship and get settlement on a complete variety of these necessary points.”
No different African international locations had but expressed curiosity in a non-tariff partnership deal just like the one with Kenya, however that would occur as nicely, she mentioned.
“Kenya has actually stepped ahead and this may very well be a mannequin for issues going ahead,” she mentioned. “We haven’t any instant plans with every other international locations however actually all eyes are on this initiative and seeing if it turns into a mannequin.”
America and Kenya on Thursday launched a strategic commerce and funding partnership targeted on boosting financial development, supporting African regional financial integration and deepening commerce cooperation, however made no point out of decreasing tariffs or enhancing market entry.
The deal requires the U.S. and Kenyan governments to begin work inside three months on a street map for engagement in areas together with agriculture security and digital commerce requirements, local weather change, regulatory practices, and customs procedures.
Kenya and the USA had launched negotiations for a free commerce settlement to decrease bilateral tariffs underneath the Trump administration in 2020. However the Biden administration, which has shunned conventional commerce offers, didn’t resume these talks.
Kenya already enjoys substantial duty-free entry to the U.S. market via the Africa Progress and Alternative Act (AGOA), however had needed to lock in these commerce preferences earlier than AGOA expires in September 2025.
Kenya exported $685.1 million price of products to the USA in 2021, mainly attire, macadamia nuts, espresso, tea and titanium ores, whereas the USA exported $561.6 million in items to Kenya in 2021, with plane, plastics, equipment and wheat among the many greatest classes.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and David Lawder; Modifying by Susan Fenton)
