EDITORIAL: Involve public in free trade deal talks with US
Tuesday, June 23, 2020 0:01
By EDITORIAL
President Uhuru Kenyatta meets his US counterpart, Donald Trump, at the White House in February.
FILE PHOTO | NMG
Almost six months since Kenya announced its intention to negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, the government continues to hold its cards close to its chest.
Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta came out strongly in defence of the FTA, saying Kenya’s team will seize every opportunity to protect sensitive industries at home while safeguarding Africa’s economic integration.
In the case of FTA, a set of negotiation objectives that the US published in May make no secret about Washington’s desire to access nearly all segments of the local economy, including protected ones.
Granted, Kenya has over the years traded with US under preferential terms, and the last of pacts under the African Growth Opportunity Act (Agoa) is set to expire in 2025.
