Kenya - US Trade Talks Hits Snag Over New Demands

A group of Agronomists on Tuesday, April 11, called on both Kenya and American governments to put on hold negotiations until their demands are considered. 
 

Kenya and the United States of America were scheduled to hold the first negotiating round under their Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership from April 17-20, 2023.

 

However, Kenyan investors in Agriculture demanded that their agenda be made part of the key chapters in the discussion that Biden Administration will hold with the Kenya Kwanza government.

 

Eco News Africa and Kenya Small Scale Farmers Forum asked the two governments to ensure that their proposals were captured as part of the negotiations. 

 

The two organisations claimed that their members will be disadvantaged if the discussions are held without their input, especially, in the agricultural sector. 

 

They noted that their demands were initially ignored during the conceptual discussions under the STIP initiative which was held in Washington, DC, on February  0, 2023. 

 

"During those meetings, the United States and Kenya engaged in productive discussions and exchanged views on the key concepts to be addressed in the trade areas set out on July 14, 2022, joint statement launching the STIP initiative," read part of the statement. 

 

The umbrella bodies for small-scale farmers took an extraordinary step to challenge the Kenya-US Trade Deal just the way they previously declined the newly signed economic partnership agreement between the Republic of Kenya on one hand and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 2020. 

 

On March 1, 2021, the two groups in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) filed a case at the Constitutional and Human Rights Division, seeking to compel Kenya and the United Kingdom to ensure transparency and effective public participation before the agreement is made into law by the National Assembly.

 

However, Kenya and the United Kingdom went ahead and ratified the trade deal, but promised transparency in all activities. 

 

The United States and Kenya shared the goal of negotiating high-standard commitments in order to achieve economically meaningful outcomes. 

 

The areas of focus included agriculture, anti-corruption, digital trade, environment and climate action, good regulatory practices, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. 

 

Other areas include protecting workers’ rights and protections and supporting the participation of women, youth, and others in the trade. 

 

Americans also proposed negotiations in the areas of standards collaboration, trade facilitation and customs procedures and services domestic regulation.