Trading Partner Portal: Kenya
Overview
California and Kenya join in a historic partnership to curb emission and boost trade
Governor of California, September 25, 2025
Memorandum on the Designation of Kenya as a Major Non-NATO Ally
The White House, June 24, 2024
United States-Kenya Joint Leaders’ Statement
The White House, May 23, 2024
Kenya: President Ruto’s U.S. State Visit Marks Major Milestone and Investment Opportunity
allAfrica.com, May 16, 2024
Trade Overview
The Republic of Kenya is located on the eastern coast of Africa, bordered by South Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Uganda to the west, Tanzania to the south, and the Indian Ocean to the southeast.
The population of Kenya totals 57.53 million people as of 2025, with the official languages of the country being English and Swahili, with other dialects through out the region. Many ethnic groups speak their mother tongues within their communities. Kenya is classified as a lower-middle-income economy and is the largest economy in eastern and central Africa with a GDP of $135.94 billion in 2025. Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, serves as the major commercial hub.
U.S. – Kenya Trade
In February 2020, the U.S. announced its intent to negotiate a trade agreement with Kenya. This would be the first agreement with a sub-Saharan African country.
Total U.S.-Kenya two-way trade was over $1.84 billion in 2025, with the U.S. exporting $982 million worth of goods to Kenya. Top exports were chemicals ($380 million), transportation equipment ($185 million), oil & gas ($168 million), computer and electronic products ($42 million), and minerals and ores ($30 million).
Imports from Kenya into the U.S. totaled $862 million in 2025. Apparel and accessories made up the largest portion at $603 million of the total. The next largest imports were agricultural products ($129 million), processed foods ($56 million), goods returned ($29 million), and used or second-hand merchandise (11 million). U.S. Department of Commerce
California – Kenya Trade
In 2025, California exported $30 million worth of goods to Kenya, a 22% drop when compared to 2024 exports. Top exports included computer and electronic products ($11 million), transportation equipment ($8 million), other special classification provisions ($4 million), non-electrical machinery ($2 million), chemicals ($3 million).
In the same year, California imported $121 million worth of goods from Kenya, a 121% increase when compared to 2024 exports of $58 million. Top imports were apparel and accessories ($54 million), agricultural products ($35 million), processed foods ($17 million), goods returned ($9 million), and livestock and livestock products ($3 million). U.S. Department of Commerce
FDI – Kenya
U.S. foreign direct investment into Kenya totaled $163 million in 2024. Bureau of Economic Analysis
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Trade Agreements
Trade Agreements
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
According to the USTR, AGOA provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for more than 1,800 products, in addition to the more than 5,000 products that are eligible for duty-free access under the Generalized System of Preferences program. Thirty-two countries currently are eligible for AGOA benefits.
To meet AGOA’s rigorous eligibility requirements, countries must establish or make continual progress toward establishing a market-based economy, the rule of law, political pluralism, and the right to due process. Additionally, countries must eliminate barriers to U.S. trade and investment, and enact policies to reduce poverty, combat corruption and protect human rights.
By providing new market opportunities, AGOA has helped bolster economic growth, promoted economic and political reform, and improved U.S. economic relations in the region.
Congress first passed the program in 2000, when Bill Clinton was president, and has renewed it several times with bipartisan support.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act (extended to 2025, initially was enacted in 2000, eliminating duties on imports from African nations into the United States if those nations made significant efforts to open their economies.
Since its inception, AGOA has helped increase U.S. two-way trade with sub-Saharan Africa. In 2015, U.S. exports with the AGOA nations totaled $17.5 billion, nearly triple the amount in 2002.
The latest 10-year extension expired on September 30, 2025, and Congress had been slow to renew the program.
On February 3, 2026, President Trump signed legislation that reauthorizes the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program through the end of the year. This was a part of the $1.2 trillion spending package that also reopened the government after a brief partial shutdown.
This retroactively applies from September 30, 2025, when the program expired, through December 31, 2026.
This extension came so that AGOA can be modernized and align with President Trumps American First agenda.
More Articles:
2024 BIENNIAL REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT
United States Trade Representative, June 2024
Biden Administration Launches U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership
CalChamber, July 15, 2022
U.S. Chamber Releases In-Depth Analysis of Potential U.S.-Kenya Free Trade Agreement
U.S. Chamber, April 28, 2021
The U.S. and Kenya Launch Negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement: Will They Succeed?
US Chamber, July 29, 2020
United States – Kenya Negotiations: Summary of Specific Negotiating Objectives
U.S. Trade Representative, May 2020
U.S. Takes Next Step in Pursuit of Free Trade Agreement with Kenya
CalChamber, March 24, 2020
U.S. Chamber: ‘Fully Supports Pursuit of a Comprehensive, High-standard Trade Agreement with Kenya’
U.S. Chamber, February 6, 2020
