Kenya races to secure U.S. trade pact as AGOA nears expiry

With the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) set to expire in September, Kenya has launched last-minute negotiations with the United States to secure a bilateral trade agreement that could reshape its economic future.
A high-level Kenyan delegation, led by Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, held talks in Washington with U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer. The goal: a reciprocal trade pact that ensures continued duty-free access to the U.S. market, crucial for Kenya’s exports — especially apparel, coffee, and tea, which generated $737 million in 2024. AGOA, enacted in 2000, has boosted jobs and exports across sub-Saharan Africa. But with President Trump’s protectionist pivot and new tariffs threatening many African economies, its renewal is unlikely. Kenya, however, was spared steep tariff hikes, facing only a 10% rate — an incentive to finalize a standalone deal.
The proposed agreement, building on the 2022 Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP), aims to attract U.S. investment, promote sustainable growth, and serve as a model for other African nations post-AGOA. Ambassador Greer welcomed Kenya’s initiative, calling for a balanced partnership that supports U.S. industry while sustaining Kenyan export opportunities. As AGOA’s sunset looms, Kenya’s urgency underscores the broader challenge facing African nations: navigating a shifting global trade landscape shaped more by bilateral deals and strategic resources than multilateral development goals.