This archive report was first published on 20 June 2020.
On June 18, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed a webinar hosted by the Atlantic Council, a prominent American think tank, under the theme 'Strengthening US-Africa ties through trade.'
President Kenyatta sought to dispel fear that the ongoing trade talks between Kenya and the United States would undermine the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). He stated that Kenya's trade deal with the US would instead assist the continent by creating a reference upon which other African nations would negotiate bilateral arrangements within the AfCFTA framework in future.
“Kenya will be the first under the new AfCTA, so we are going to be trailblazers in this and we hope that others will also follow,” he said.
President Kenyatta emphasized that a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US would reposition Kenya as a gateway for American investments in Africa. He noted that the essence of an FTA is investment, and that Americans would be able to say: “Why can’t we invest in Kenya and not only take advantage of Kenya but the region?”
Commenting on Africa’s response to the Covid-19 health crisis, the President said Africa’s foremost concern was to protect its population from the virus. He also spoke about Kenya’s Building Bridges Initiative, saying the process was meant to create national cohesion.
