US Trade Representative Katherine Tai did not meet with Trade and Investment Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria during her trip to Kenya. This absence was notable, and it was reported that Ambassador Tai had raised concerns over Kuria’s public remarks, leading to the cancellation of two scheduled meetings between them to discuss trade ties between Kenya and the USA.
During her visit, Ambassador Tai met with President William Ruto at the State House in Nairobi. However, Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria was not part of the officials involved in those talks. Ambassador Tai stated that her visit was focused on enhancing, deepening, and broadening the US-Kenya economic relationship, as well as the US economic relationship with East Africa.
President Ruto mentioned that Kenya has been benefiting from the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which has allowed the country to develop value chains, expand and diversify exports, and create thousands of job opportunities. Additionally, he expressed the intention to expand the relationship beyond AGOA, considering advanced technology and climate change, to fully realize the trade potential between the two countries.
By Abigael Chemok