By: ThinkBusiness Africa
Kenya and the United States are set to return to the negotiating table in Washington next week, a move aimed at finalizing a long-awaited bilateral trade deal. The announcement comes as Nairobi faces mounting pressure to address a trade deficit that has recently swelled to $142 million.
Lee Kinyanjui, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry, confirmed on Wednesday that the high-level talks will take place from Monday through Thursday. Kinyanjui noted that the upcoming four-day session would likely be followed by “one or two meetings” to “firm up deliberations” and conclude the process.
The negotiations focus on the Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP). While Kenya recently secured a lifeline through the extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)—signed by President Trump earlier this month—that extension only runs through December 31, 2026.
Kenyan officials are now sprinting to secure a more permanent, reciprocal agreement. “We are advancing a bilateral agreement even as we eye the AGOA extension,” Kinyanjui stated, emphasizing the need for a framework that provides long-term stability for Kenyan exporters.
For Kenya, the stakes are high. The U.S. remains a vital market, accounting for roughly 10% of Kenya’s total exports. In 2025, Kenya exported goods worth $788.6 million to the U.S., but imports climbed to over $930 million, leaving a significant gap.
