Kenya is proceeding with Free Trade Agreement talks with the US despite opposition by a section of African countries and the East African Community (EAC) bloc. On Wednesday evening, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Kenya’s Industry and Trade Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina formally launched the talks. “Proposed Free Trade Agreement talks between Kenya and US will not undermine Kenya's previous agreements with regional and continental trading blocks,” CS Maina said. “It is important to note that concluding an FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with the US will have a negative knock-on effect on the integration efforts under the East African Community and the Continental Free Trade Agreement,” Edgar Odari, an official at Econews notes. The bilateral trade agreement followed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s meeting with US President Donald Trump in February.

Source: The Star July 10, 2020 00:56 UTC