By ALLAN OLINGO More by this AuthorBy ANTHONY KITIMO More by this AuthorKenya’s need to export value-added agricultural products dominated the first round of talks with America after its formal launch on Wednesday last week. In its objectives document, Nairobi wants to enter negotiation cautiously to make sure that the free trade agreement provides safety nets and exceptions to protect Kenya's economic interests. Plans to begin talks on the bilateral trade agreement were announced after President Uhuru Kenyatta visited his America counterpart Donald Trump in February where they elevated the Washington-Nairobi bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. Kenya on the other hand also submitted its trade objectives where it will be seeking to protect key economic sectors and shield several strategic state-owned enterprises from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) commitments. African Head of States have discouraged African Union member countries from entering into bilateral free trade negotiations with third parties to avoid jeopardising the AfCFTA.

Source: Daily Nation July 21, 2020 06:56 UTC