In a move to secure economic stability for its textile and apparel sectors, Kenya is on track to sign a new bilateral trade agreement with the United States by December. This new deal aims to provide a safety net amidst the uncertain future of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

• Kenya's President William Ruto announced the upcoming bilateral trade deal with the U.S. and is simultaneously lobbying for a five-year extension of AGOA.
• The impending expiration of AGOA, which grants duty-free access to the U.S. market for qualifying African nations, risks over 66,000 Kenyan jobs if a successor agreement or extension is not secured.
• The Kenyan National Assembly has called for an expedited AGOA extension, citing its vital contribution to the nation's economy and livelihoods, with women comprising approximately 75 percent of direct beneficiaries.