A high-level delegation from Kenya, led by Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui and Principal Secretary for Trade Regina Ombam, is in Washington, D.C., for a three-day working tour beginning Monday, August 18, 2025, the Ministry of Trade announced in a press release.
The mission aims to strengthen trade and investment ties between Kenya and the United States at a time marked by rising global trade uncertainty.
Kenya currently enjoys preferential access to the U.S. market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), but that program is set to expire on September 30, potentially exposing Kenyan exports to new U.S. tariffs.
In a statement shared on his X account, CS Kinyanjui said the visit was part of efforts to secure Kenya’s long-term trade and investment interests.
“A delegation from the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, led by Hon. Lee Kinyanjui and Principal Secretary for Trade, Regina Ombam, is in Washington D.C. for a three-day working tour aimed at strengthening trade and investment relations between Kenya and the United States,” he said.
He explained that the program includes high-level engagements with senior U.S. trade officials and targeted discussions with the American private sector through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“Interest from U.S. companies in Kenya continues to grow, reflecting confidence in Kenya’s economy as a strategic gateway to Africa,” he noted.
According to the minister, the talks will pay special attention to Kenya’s exports beyond the expiry of AGOA and to tariff measures affecting the broader export portfolio.
“The central focus of the discussions is securing Kenya’s long-term trade and investment interests, with particular attention to safeguarding Kenya’s exports beyond the expiry of AGOA and addressing tariff measures impacting our broader export portfolio,” Kinyanjui added.
He further stressed the importance of the bilateral relationship.
“Kenya and the United States enjoy historic relations built on mutual benefit. This visit provides an important opportunity to deepen those ties while creating new pathways for business and investment on both sides,” he said.
Kenya is also seeking to revive full Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the United States, which began in 2020 but stalled under President Biden in favour of a narrower Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership. With AGOA nearing its expiry, Nairobi is keen on securing a more permanent arrangement.
Beyond AGOA, Kenya has felt the weight of Washington’s shifting tariff policies. In April this year, the Trump administration introduced sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs, which imposed a 10 per cent baseline duty on imports from Kenya. While harsher country-specific tariffs were put on hold, Kenya continues to face the flat rate.
Kinyanjui has previously argued that Kenya could still benefit by positioning itself as a reliable hub for U.S. buyers, but analysts warn of significant risks if AGOA is not renewed. Up to 16,000 jobs in Kenya’s export-processing zones could be lost, particularly in textiles and apparel, should duty-free access to the U.S. market come to an end.
To hedge against these risks, Kenya is exploring deeper ties with other global partners, including China and the European Union, while also promoting trade within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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