[CTC] U.S., Kenya plan roadmap toward ‘high-standard commitments’ on trade

[Arthur Stamoulis]

U.S., Kenya plan roadmap toward ‘high-standard commitments’ on trade
Inside US Trade, 6/13/22 
 
The U.S. and Kenya have agreed to discuss an “ambitious” trade arrangement with “high-standard commitments” in key areas including agriculture, digital trade and climate change, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced on Monday.
 
U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Kenyan Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina met in Geneva on the margins of the World Trade Organization's 12th ministerial conference following a meeting of “experts” in Kenya last month, USTR said. The two “agreed to explore pathways towards a deeper bilateral trade and economic relationship that: promotes sustainable and inclusive economic growth; benefits workers, consumers, and businesses (including micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises); and supports African regional economic integration,” the statement says.
 
“They discussed a number of issues where the United States and Kenya could develop an ambitious roadmap for enhanced cooperation and, where appropriate, explore negotiating high-standard commitments,” it adds. “The issues discussed include trade facilitation and customs, standards, services digital trade, environment and climate change, and agriculture.”
 
The U.S. and Kenya in 2020 began talks on a possible free trade agreement that then-USTR Robert Lighthizer said would serve as a model for deals with other countries in the region. The Biden administration, however, did not resume those talks, choosing to prioritize domestic economic initiatives and pandemic relief efforts over free trade talks.
 
The two countries have continued discussions on trade, however, with Tai and Maina talking on several occasions. Last month, Assistant USTR for African Affairs Constance Hamilton led a delegation of officials from USTR and the State, Commerce, Labor and Agriculture departments to Kenya for talks on how to deepen trade.
 
USTR did not issue a readout or disclose further details on that trip at the time.
 
A USTR official on Monday said the newly announced discussions were not a resumption of the FTA negotiations.
 
Kenya has continued to push for the resumption of trade talks since the Biden administration took office. A trade deal with Kenya also has strong support among U.S. lawmakers.

“As a next step,” USTR said in the statement from Geneva, “the two countries will work to finalize a list of areas for cooperation to deepen economic engagement, and the two ministers agreed to meet again in the coming weeks to announce next steps.”
 
Also on Monday, Kenya joined the European Union, New Zealand and Ecuador in forming a “Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate <https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-teams-ecuador-kenya-new-zealand-forge-cooperation-trade-and-climate-2022-06-13_en>.” According to a joint statement, the ministers met on Monday to “start a dialogue and enhance international cooperation on the trade and climate nexus and its contribution to sustainable development and environmental sustainability.”
They will meet again in July to discuss next steps and organize the first meeting early next year.
 
“We should all be cognisant of the fact that climate change is one of the triple planetary environmental crises affecting the globe and therefore, the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate will work extensively to provide a unique platform for top-level engagement on the trade and climate nexus,” Maina said in the statement. “Trade should not only empower and improve the livelihoods of communities but should also serve as a catalyst for climate solutions by transitioning to more circular economy-driven development. Kenya, like many countries, has been adversely affected by climate change and has taken bold steps to adapt and mitigate the impact. We are therefore taking another timely and critical step to work together with like-minded countries to fulfil the shared global responsibility of ensuring that trade and trade policy play their expected role in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, in recognition of our joint commitment to implement the promises we made in the Cop 26 Glasgow Climate Pact.” -- Dan Dupont (ddupont at iwpnews.com <mailto:ddupont at iwpnews.com>)

Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826




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