Kenya’s President William Ruto said on Wednesday that his country expects to sign a bilateral trade agreement with the United States by the end of 2025, while also urging Washington to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for at least five more years.
Speaking on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Ruto said he would raise the issue in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The 25-year-old AGOA programme grants duty-free access to African exports but is due to expire this month.
“I will be asking the U.S. to seriously consider renewing and extending AGOA … it connects Africa and the U.S. in a very fundamental way and can go a long way in addressing trade deficits and challenges,” Ruto told Reuters.
A bipartisan push for an extension last year stalled in Congress, while President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and his tariff-driven trade agenda have further clouded prospects. Trump earlier this year imposed a 10% tariff on Kenyan goods.
Ruto said Kenya is seeking greater access for its textiles, apparel, tea, coffee and avocados, while also looking to expand into sectors such as mining and fishing. If concluded, the trade deal would be the first between Washington and a sub-Saharan African country.
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He noted that while China has already scrapped tariffs on Kenyan farm products, trade with Beijing remains tilted in its favour. “With the U.S., the balance is fairer, but we still seek ways to deepen and expand trade with all partners,” he said.
Turning to security, Ruto said the U.S., Qatar, the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community are expected to meet next month over the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He also renewed calls for greater international support for the Kenya-led mission in Haiti, warning that armed gangs had overrun Port-au-Prince, displacing 1.3 million people.
“We need more numbers, more logistics, more equipment and more financial support to carry this through,” he said.
