The Kenya - United States Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership | In negotiation
On 6 February 2020, (former) US President Trump announced that the United States intends to initiate trade agreement negotiations with the Republic of Kenya following a meeting at the White House with (former) Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. The announcement came while the US-Kenya Trade and Investment Working Group held its third meeting in Washington (see inaugural meeting, second meeting) - having been established earlier by President Trump and President Kenyatta in August 2018 in order to lay the groundwork for a stronger bilateral preferential trade relationship.
The nature of the proposed bilateral agreement has changed over time and later, under the Biden administration, became known as a strategic trade and investment partnership (STIP), rather than a trade agreement. It did not contain a traditional market access agenda (involving for example reciprocal tariff reductions or removal, rules of origin, etc.) but focused more on a number of other disciplines around investment and inclusive growth, to benefit workers and businesses.
The bilateral negotiations initially commenced on July 7, 2020 (see joint statement).
See Federal Register notice: Request for comments on matters relevant to specified trade areas, including U.S. interests and priorities, in order to develop objectives and positions for enhanced engagement and subsequent negotiation (Submission deadline: 16 September 2022).
During a virtual meeting on July 14, 2022, the United States Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, and Kenya's Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary, Betty Maina, launched the United States-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP).
Download the joint statement in the document block alongside.
The charts below provide some broad background data context to current Kenya-US trade in goods; followed by a selection of recent international news updates and documents on the topic.
For the Kenya country section here on AGOA.info: Click here
Please scroll down for relevant news articles relating to the proposed US-Kenya FTA, as well as a range of relevant documents, such as the negotiating principles, a US-Kenya FTA/AGOA trade brochure, and others.
Trade data covering two-way trade between Kenya and the United States can be viewed in the relevant charts. To activate / deactivate a data series, simply click on the relevant series year in the relevant chart legend.
[Below] Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u with US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, with other officials after the signing of the agreement to enhance public procurement, in Nairobi on February 6, 2024
Kenya - United States trade data
This section tracks trade in goods between the United Stats and Kenya, and includes several sets of data.
On each chart, individual data series can be activated and de-activated, by clicking on the relevant series name.
- Two-way trade trade in goods
- Kenya's exports to the US by program (preferential trade versus traded goods that enter the US on a non-preferential / MFN basis
- United States imports from Kenya by sector
- United States exports to Kenya, by sector
Download related documents
US - Kenya Trade Negotiations - Report by Congressional Research Service 15 May 2024
The United States and Kenya began free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in 2020 under then-President Donald Trump and then-President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. The Joseph R. Biden Administration did not continue the FTA talks; it instead launched the U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) in July 2022. STIP aims to establish “high-standard commitments” between the United States and Kenya on various nontariff trade...
Second tranche: US-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership Summary of Texts Proposed by the US Side April 2024
Public summary of second set of US text proposals under the US-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership
Congressional Research Service - US-Kenya Trade Negotiations
The United States and Kenya began free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in 2020 under then-President Donald Trump and then-President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. The Joseph R. Biden Administration did not continue the FTA talks; it instead launched the U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) in July 2022. STIP aims to establish “high-standard commitments” between the United States and Kenya on various nontariff trade...
First tranche: US-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership Summary of Texts Proposed by the US Side May 2023
First tranche, March 2023. The summaries detail the negotiating proposals from the US side for the following chapters: agriculture; anticorruption; micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises; and services domestic regulation.
US Strategy towards Sub-Saharan Africa (2022)
Sub-Saharan Africa is critical to advancing our global priorities. It has one of the world’s fastest growing populations, largest free trade areas, most diverse ecosystems, and one of the largest regional voting groups in the United Nations (UN). It is impossible to meet this era’s defining challenges without African contributions and leadership. The region will factor prominently in efforts to: end the COVID-19 pandemic; tackle the...
Federal Register Notice: U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership
On July 14, 2022, the United States and Kenya launched the United States-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP). Under this initiative the two governments will pursue enhanced engagement leading to high standard commitments in a wide range of areas with a view to increasing investment; promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth; benefiting workers, consumers, and businesses (including micro-, small-, and medium-sized...
US-Kenya trade negotiations: implications for the future of the US-Africa trade relationship
In February 2020, the United States and the Republic of Kenya announced the launch of negotiations to conclude a comprehensive and reciprocal free trade agreement (FTA) that would be the first of its kind between the United States and a sub-Saharan African country. The negotiations, announced by U.S. President Trump and Kenya’s President Kenyatta, marked an important development in recent U.S. engagement with Africa and, if successful, would...
Brochure | Kenya-United States FTA
Information brochure on the proposed US-Kenya FTA, including trade data and negotiating principles. Double-sided A4. For printing purposes, set 'fit to page' on your printer.
Kenya private sector consortium comments on the FTA objectives
These comments are submitted in response to the open invitation by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and Enterprise Development to submit comments to enrich the Kenya-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Negotiations. The Private Sector Consortium is a working group setup purely to provide private sector input to the FTA. The Consortium comprises of representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce Kenya, the Kenya...
Kenya's US FTA negotiating principles - June 2020
Kenya and the US, in February 2020 jointly announced their intent to initiate negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between themselves. Towards this end, the Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development having consulted and heard from from various stakeholders developed Negotiating Objectives and Principles to guide the negotiations for this first bilateral FTA between Kenya and the US. This is now made available for...
The US-Kenya FTA: insights into the bilateral trade relationship and early progress on setting terms for an FTA
On 6 February 2020, US President Donald Trump announced the United States’ intention to initiate negotiations with Kenya on a bilateral Free Trade Area (FTA). This followed a meeting between President Trump and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta at the White House during a state visit by Kenyatta to the US. An FTA between the US and any country would be noteworthy, but even more so when it potentially involves the first country in...
US FTA negotiating principles (Kenya FTA) - May 2020
On March 17, 2020, the Trump Administration notified Congress that the President intends to negotiate a trade agreement with the Republic of Kenya, in accordance with section 105(a)(1)(A) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act). This notification was made following a February 6, 2020, meeting at the White House between President Trump and Kenyan President...
US Trade and investment with Sub-Saharan Africa: Recent developments 2020 Report
This report provides information on U.S. trade and investment with sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In particular, it analyzes the sectors in which U.S. trade in goods and services with SSA showed the strongest growth during 2016–18; identifies SSA countries for which U.S. exports, imports, and outward foreign direct investment (FDI) increased the most during the period; and highlights the main factors behind this growth. Focusing on several SSA...
2019 US National trade estimate report on foreign trade barriers
The 2019 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE) is the 34th in an annual series that highlights significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports, U.S. foreign direct investment, and U.S. electronic commerce. This document is a companion piece to the President’s 2019 Trade Policy Agenda and 2018 Annual Report, published by Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in March.
![Brochure - AGOA performance and country profile of Kenya [updated 2023]](https://agoa.info/images/articles/15557/kenyaagoaguide.png)
Brochure - AGOA performance and country profile of Kenya [updated 2023]
An overview of Kenya's participation and utilisation of AGOA preferences since the year 2000, including relevant trade data and country-specific sector-focus. Includes profile of US exports to Angola. Double-sided A4 brochure. For printing, set 'fit to page'. Including trade data to end 2022
Read related news articles
US and Kenya invite public participation in stakeholder listening session during 6th negotiating round under the STIP
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