What You Need to Know
Kenya’s Trade Minister, Lee Kinyanjui, announced that Kenya and the United States will resume bilateral trade negotiations in Washington next week. The talks aim to establish a comprehensive trade agreement to enhance economic relations and eliminate non-tariff barriers, following initial discussions that began in 2020.
Africa-Press. Kenya’s Trade Minister, Lee Kinyanjui, announced that Kenya and the United States will resume bilateral trade negotiations in Washington next week, aiming to establish a comprehensive trade agreement to enhance economic relations and eliminate non-tariff barriers.
Kinyanjui stated in remarks published by his office that “the talks will be held from Monday to Thursday, followed by one or two meetings afterward to confirm the deliberations.”
The minister explained that Kenya, which exported goods worth approximately $737 million to the United States in 2024—equivalent to about 10% of its total exports—initiated the negotiation process in 2020 during the first term of President Donald Trump’s administration. Discussions on a trade and investment partnership progressed during the previous administration of President Joe Biden before being temporarily halted with Trump’s return to the White House in 2025.
The talks aim to protect opportunities for Kenyan products to access the U.S. market and expand trade cooperation between the two sides, as Kenya seeks to boost its exports and open new markets for its agricultural and industrial products.
The trade negotiations between Kenya and the United States began in 2020 during Donald Trump’s presidency, focusing on creating a robust trade partnership. The discussions aimed to facilitate Kenyan exports to the U.S. market, which accounted for approximately 10% of Kenya’s total exports in 2024. The negotiations were temporarily halted but are now set to resume as both countries seek to strengthen their economic ties.
