The administration of United States President Joe Biden is set to review the bilateral talks held on the US-Kenya Free Trade Agreement (FTA) deal under former President Donald Trump.
The Biden administration is keen to streamline all bilateral talks with the US President's $4 trillion revamp of the US economy through muscular industrial policies aimed at combating climate change.
This could imply that the date of the bilateral talks could be delayed and the objectives of the deal be redesigned to meet the Biden administration agenda. This means that some of the aims of the deal under the Trump administration could be dropped.
File image of US President Joe Biden. |Photo| Courtesy|
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US Trade Secretary Catherine Tai reiterated on Friday, April 2, that the FTA between the US and Kenya must reflect the priorities of the new administration-aimed at prioritising the procurement of America-made goods both within and outside the US.
"Ambassador Tai highlighted her ongoing review of the negotiations to ensure that any agreements aligns with the Biden-Harris administration's Build Back Better Agenda," a statement by the US government read in part, after a virtual meeting between Secretary Tai and Trade Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina.
"They also discussed the bilateral trade negotiations conducted under the previous administration."
The deal would be the first US FTA in Sub-Saharan Africa, amid concerns of China's growing influence in Africa.
The Biden administration is determined to reduce China's share of international trade.
Kenya and the US launched FTA negotiations in July 2020 with the hope of settling on a deal that would model future Africa-US trades.
Kenya is looking to conclude the trade negotiations before the expiry of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) which allows Sub-Saharan countries to export thousands of products to the US without tariffs or quotas.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and former US President Donald Trump. |Photo| Courtesy|
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