Africa and The Middle East

A trade deal with the U.S. could help both Kenya and its neighbors in the East African Community by fostering the development of regional value chains, a former U.S. trade official tells Inside U.S. Trade. “I think it’d be really fascinating as we go forward with this U.S.-Kenya FTA to see what’s going to be possible not just for Kenya but for other African countries in various sectors,” Florie Liser, a former assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa who...

U.S. tech companies see a U.S.-Kenya trade deal as an opportunity to align the two countries on digital trade, a major association representing the industry tells Inside U.S. Trade. “Kenya has a strong, growing tech sector and startup sector and I think bringing them into our mindset on what digital means and digital policies I think would only benefit them and help grow their economy and benefit the United States as well,” Jordan Haas, director of trade policy for...

The U.S and Kenya have agreed to begin negotiations toward a free trade agreement, the Trump administration and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta announced on Thursday. In a statement , U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he planned to notify Congress of his intent to begin talks under the auspices of Trade Promotion Authority, a goal of some key House lawmakers . “Kenya is a recognized leader across the continent, an important strategic partner of the United States, and there is...

A trade deal between Washington and Nairobi could serve as a guide for African Continental Free Trade Agreement parties to follow in boosting engagement with countries like the U.S., Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Wednesday. Kenyatta, who is set to meet with President Trump on Thursday, said he could neither “confirm or deny” rumors that the countries would announce plans to launch trade talks this week, but contended that a bilateral deal would benefit the region as a whole...

Kenya should consider delaying trade talks with the U.S. until African Continental Free Trade Agreement negotiations conclude, a former senior African trade negotiator tells Inside U.S. Trade , contending that concurrent discussions could prove complicated. A delegation led by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is in Washington, DC, this week to hold trade-centric meetings with the Trump administration and business officials. The two countries are expected to announce their intent to begin bilateral trade talks. The Office of the U.S. Trade...

The U.S. entertainment industry clashed with tech groups and other stakeholders on Friday in a debate over a proposed South African copyright law that dominated a two-day hearing to review several countries’ eligibility under the Generalized System of Preferences. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative initiated the review of South Africa’s GSP eligibility last October, accepting a petition from the International Intellectual Property Alliance, a group that counts the Recording Industry Association of America and the Motion Picture Association...

House Ways & Means Committee ranking member Kevin Brady (R-TX) and trade subcommittee Chairman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) said on Thursday they hope the Trump administration will pursue trade talks with Kenya under the auspices of Trade Promotion Authority law. The U.S. and Kenya could soon announce their intent to negotiate a trade agreement, long a goal for U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. A high-level Kenyan delegation is slated to visit Washington, DC, next week. Brady said he “assumes” Lighthizer will...