This archive report was first published on 8 July 2021.
On July 1, 2021, US President Joe Biden allowed the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to expire, a move that has put the Kenya-US trade deal in jeopardy.
The TPA, which delegates powers to the US head of state to fast track trade negotiations with the Congress, had been a crucial tool for getting trade deals ratified quickly.
Without the TPA, any deals reached between Kenya and the US would be subject to amendments by US legislators, making it difficult to get ratified.
The expiry of the TPA has dimmed the prospects for the conclusion of the trade deal, which had been in the works since July last year.
Kenya had hoped for a speedy conclusion of the talks, but the Biden administration has shown little interest in agreements like the Environmental Goods Agreement and the Trade in Services Agreement.
Instead, the administration is prioritizing enforcing existing trade deals, strengthening America's manufacturing supply chains, and encouraging domestic investment and innovation.
The trade deal with Kenya is seen as a pointer to how America will engage with Africa, especially in the face of China's growing influence on the continent.
Kenya wanted to do a deal with Washington before the expiry of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which allows sub-Saharan African countries to export thousands of products to the United States without tariffs or quotas until 2025.
