Agoa.info - African Growth and Opportunity Act
TRALAC - Trade Law Centre
You are here: Home/News/Article/USAID supports Kenya’s AGOA strategy to double duty-free exports by 2023

USAID supports Kenya’s AGOA strategy to double duty-free exports by 2023

USAID supports Kenya’s AGOA strategy to double duty-free exports by 2023
Published date:
Tuesday, 31 July 2018
Author:
George Tubei
Source:

Kenya’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives has launched the Kenya National African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Strategy and Action Plan (2018-2023) alongside Kenya’s National Export Development and Promotion Strategy. 

The new National AGOA Strategy outlines actions for priority sectors to increase the country’s exports to the U.S. by 10.4 percent annually.

In 2017, Kenya exported goods worth $572 million to the United States.  By 2023, the strategy projects that Kenya’s U.S. exports will reach $1,105 million.

USAID, through its East Africa Trade and Investment Hub (the Hub), supported the Ministry and Kenya’s private sector with the development of the new strategy. 

The Hub assisted the Ministry in reviewing the 2012-2016 Kenya National AGOA Strategy; mapping bilateral trade; identifying sectors with competitive exports; assessing supply-side challenges; and determining strategic action plans.  The new strategy builds upon these lessons to address U.S. market share expansion, buyer diversification, productivity improvements, trade-support capacity building, and export supply development for the apparel, home décor, processed and specialty foods, flowers, coffee, tea, and fresh fruit and vegetables sectors.

kenya strategy agoa 900px

The new National AGOA Strategy outlines actions for priority sectors to increase the country’s exports to the U.S. by 10.4 percent annually. 

 

AGOA and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) offer preferential access to the U.S. market for 6,421 eligible product tariff lines.  By leveraging these products’ duty-free access to the United States, Kenya can increase export earnings and investment, advance industrialization, create jobs, and improve domestic economic growth.

AGOA has been the cornerstone of U.S. economic engagement with Kenya since it was signed into law by the U.S. Congress in 2000, and has shifted the focus of U.S.-Kenya economic relations from aid to trade and investment.

We are pleased to join the Government of Kenya today in the launch of its AGOA strategy, aimed at strengthening a mutually beneficial trade relationship.  The AGOA strategy is unique in its invaluable access to the world's largest consumer market.  We encourage the Kenyan private sector to take advantage of AGOA trade preferences to expand exports, build a more prosperous nation, and deepen economic ties with the United States,” said Scott Cameron, Director, Office of Economic Growth and Integration, USAID Kenya and East Africa.

Read related news articles

US President Biden to welcome Kenyan President Ruto to the White House in May

President Joe Biden plans to welcome Kenyan President William Ruto to the White House in May, hosting a state visit after reneging on his promise to visit Africa last year. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that the visit set for May 23 will mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations and "celebrate a partnership that is delivering for the people" of both countries while affirming "our strategic...

18 February 2024

'Nigeria missing as Kenya, Ghana tap AGOA opportunities to boost foreign exchange earnings'

Africa’s biggest economy is still failing to tap the opportunities that the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) present to boost its foreign exchange, amid acute dollar shortages. The AGOA has been on for over twenty-three years as it was enacted in 2020. In 2015, the program was modernised and extended to 2025, implying that there are only about 15 months before the window closes. Some countries have taken advantage of the AGOA more...

05 February 2024

Kenya-US to deepen ICT, apparel and agriculture trade

Kenya and United States are in talks to identify areas of interest in information communication technology (ICT) sector that can interest US firms.  A meeting between The US Ambassador to Kenya, Megan Whitman, and the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry Rebecca Miano, the states sought cooperation in six key areas. The meeting laid the groundwork for an enhanced collaboration between Kenya and the United States in...

09 November 2023

Kenya President Ruto joins US-Kenya business roadshow in San Francisco

Kenya's President William Ruto will address leading US technology companies and investors on Friday at the US-Kenya Business Roadshow in San Francisco organised by the American government’s Prosper Africa initiative. The roadshow - also co-organised by the US Embassy in Nairobi - highlights the business and investment potential in Kenya’s booming tech sector, a statement from the US Embassy in Kenya said. The event is part of a...

15 September 2023

AGOA boosts Kenya's textile exports to US, sector sees 7.2% growth

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has benefitted Kenya’s textile and apparel sector, leading to monthly exports to the tune of Sh4.5 billion, or Sh150 million per day, last year, according to a study by London-based Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). The programme has had a positive impact on the country’s export-processing zones (EPZs), especially in the textile and garment sector. Kenya is the second-largest exporter of...

08 August 2023

Kenya's president meets US delegates on trade and investments

Kenyan President William Ruto has today held talks with US Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai. The discussions were based on US trade policy. Ruto said that the country is ready to strengthen the already existing relations between the two nations. "We will stretch our ties beyond the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in the wake of advanced technology and climate change, for the full exploitation of our trade potential,"...

19 July 2023

Liberia: ECOWAS, USAID sensitise economic operators on AGOA, Food Safety Act in Liberia

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), commenced a two-day sensitization workshop for economic operators on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Food Safety Act in Monrovia. However, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a U.S. unilateral trade preference program that allows eligible countries in sub-Saharan...

19 July 2023

US trade rep in Nairobi as Kenya's solo deals worry the EAC block [incl. Readouts]

The US trade representative is in Nairobi to co-lead a meeting that seeks Kenya's partnership in a fresh trade deal. The Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA Council) is pursuing various agreements even as regional peers express concern over Kenya's solo approach.  Yesterday, Trade Representative, Katherine Tai met patron circle members of the American Chamber of Commerce-Kenya (AmCham Kenya) ahead of today's...

17 July 2023

US boosts Kenya apparel industry with $55m in new trade deals

The US is giving Kenya $55 million for expansion of export processing zones in a move that will boost Nairobi’s apparel exports. US initiative Prosper Africa and the US Embassy announced the funding at the launch of the US-Kenya Business Roadshow held on April 25 in New York. The announcement was part of the commitments made by President Joe Biden at the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit last year. The funds will be channelled under USAid and...

29 April 2023

Why Africa, why Kenya? Remarks by US Ambassador to Kenya

Thank you, Scott, for the kind introduction. It is a pleasure to partner with the Prosper Africa initiative to drive investment in Kenya and countries across the African continent. I am happy to kick off our U.S.-Kenya Business Roadshow with all of you today, and to announce that we will be partnering with Prosper Africa throughout the year to engage businesses and investors in cities across the United States. Our next stops include San...

26 April 2023

Kenya-USA: Joint Statement on the third US-Kenya bilateral strategic dialogue [incl. VIDEO]

The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Kenya on the occasion of U.S.-Kenya Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on April 24, 2023. Begin Text: The Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Kenya held the third iteration of the U.S.-Kenya Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on April 24, 2023.  The U.S.-Kenya Strategic...

24 April 2023

You are here: Home/News/Article/USAID supports Kenya’s AGOA strategy to double duty-free exports by 2023