President William Ruto has opened talks with the United States aimed at establishing a new bilateral trade arrangement that could significantly expand Kenya’s export footprint in the world’s largest economy.
The President met United States Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer in Washington, D.C., where the two sides began shaping a joint framework expected to guide future trade and investment cooperation.
The framework is designed to create a more predictable environment for investors while unlocking new opportunities for Kenyan manufacturers and service providers.
According to the Kenyan delegation, the discussions identified apparel and textiles, agricultural products, leather and footwear, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, and ICT and digital services as high-potential growth sectors.
“Held talks with United States Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer in Washington, D.C., in the United States. Our discussions focused on establishing a bilateral trade arrangement that will deepen the partnership between our two nations. To achieve this, we are developing a joint framework that will unlock more opportunities for trade and build a more predictable environment for investment,” he said.
These industries are seen as critical drivers of job creation, export earnings and stronger domestic value chains.
The talks also touched on the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), with Nairobi welcoming a proposal by the current US administration to extend the programme for one year.
The proposal currently before the US Congress—would allow the US government more time to craft a more comprehensive, long-term regime for African countries.
Ambassador Greer noted that the extension would give both sides room to develop a stronger framework that balances strategic and commercial interests while creating new opportunities for bilateral trade.
The meeting comes as Kenya seeks to position itself as a key partner for the US in East Africa, leveraging trade, investment and digital innovation to spur economic growth.
