US officials to fast-track talks on Kenya-US Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP)
US authorities will expedite negotiations on the Kenya-US Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) and consider extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beyond its expiry next year.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi who spoke after a meeting with US Secretary for State Mr Tony Blinken said these initiatives will facilitate expanded duty and quota-free access for Kenya’s and Africa’s exports to the US market.
STIP, which comes after the successful conclusion and signing of the EU Economic Partnership Agreement, will give Kenya unprecedented access to the US market.
Mr Mudavadi and Mr Blinken discussed the Kenya-US partnership on peace and security in East Africa.
"I held a constructive meeting with US Secretary of State Mr Tony Blinken on peace and security issues, including regional conflicts in East Africa and disruption of global logistics by the Middle East crisis’ said Mr Mudavadi.
On his part, Blinken stated: "We appreciate Kenya’s longstanding role in ensuring international peace and security."
Mudavadi's trip to the US comes after another successful trip to China where he has been proactively running with President Ruto’s economic diplomacy agenda.
Mr Mudavadi is on a strategic global tour to promote Kenya as an FDI destination, create markets for Kenyan goods and services as well as opportunities for Kenyan human capital across the world.
President Ruto mandated Mr Mudavadi to work with the National Treasury, Trade, Labor and Agriculture to create wealth and employment opportunities using economic diplomacy.
Follow updates on the US-Kenya STIP negotiations here