US, Kenya intend to sign commercial & investment partnership

The partnership, with robust participation from the private sector, aims at promoting a strong business-enabling environment and to facilitate trade and investment opportunities in Kenya focused on key priority sectors, including digital economy, a White House fact sheet said during the recent official visit of Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto to Washington, DC.

The visit marked 60 years of official US-Kenya partnership. 

Vivo Fashion, a leading Kenyan women’s fashion brand in East Africa, announced the opening of its first retail storefront in the United States in Atlanta, Georgia, the factsheet said.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States and Kenya sought to negotiate a model free trade agreement to set a high standard for US engagement in sub-Saharan Africa, including new access for US agriculture. I appreciate that Kenya remains open to resuming such negotiations. Unfortunately, under President Biden, they have fallen by the wayside in favor of less ambitious negotiations to form a ‘partnership’ that is designed to enter into force without congressional approval, Ways and Means Committee chairman Jason Smith said in a statement.

“It is vital that the United States reengages with Kenya to show leadership on the African continent and counter China’s malign influence. Only comprehensive free trade agreement negotiations can address the substantial tariffs facing US exports, including agricultural products, with meaningful enforcement mechanisms—something that frameworks, partnerships and dialogues cannot accomplish,” he added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)