Notice2022-16798
U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 5, 2022
Issuing agencies
Trade Representative, Office of United States
Abstract
On July 14, 2022, the United States and Kenya launched the United States-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP). Under this initiative the two governments will pursue enhanced engagement leading to high standard commitments in a wide range of areas with a view to increasing investment; promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth; benefiting workers, consumers, and businesses (including micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)); and supporting African regional economic integration. As the two governments develop a roadmap for the initial issues under that engagement, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is seeking public comments on matters relevant to specified trade areas, including U.S. interests and priorities, in order to develop objectives and positions for enhanced engagement and subsequent negotiation.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 150 (Friday, August 5, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 150 (Friday, August 5, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48060-48061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16798]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket Number USTR-2022-0008]
U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: On July 14, 2022, the United States and Kenya launched the
United States-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP).
Under this initiative the two governments will pursue enhanced
engagement leading to high standard commitments in a wide range of
areas with a view to increasing investment; promoting sustainable and
inclusive economic growth; benefiting workers, consumers, and
businesses (including micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises
(MSMEs)); and supporting African regional economic integration. As the
two governments develop a roadmap for the initial issues under that
engagement, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)
is seeking public comments on matters relevant to specified trade
areas, including U.S. interests and priorities, in order to develop
objectives and positions for enhanced engagement and subsequent
negotiation.
DATES: The deadline for the submission of written comments is September
16, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You should submit written comments through the Federal
eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> (<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>).
Follow the instructions for submissions in parts II and III below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning
written comments, please contact Spencer Smith at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d1e3d28232e283f6301631e202439257f0d383e393f6328223d632a223b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c291b2a7aca1a7b0ec8eec91afabb6aaf082b7b1b6b0eca7adb2eca5adb4">[email protected]</span></a> or (202) 395-2974 in advance of the
deadline and before transmitting a comment. Direct all other questions
to Bennett Harman, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for
Africa, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#01434960736c606f41747275732f646e712f666e77"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="783a30190a151916380d0b0c0a561d1708561f170e">[email protected]</span></a>, or (202) 395-9612.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
During a virtual meeting on July 14, 2022, the U.S. Trade
Representative and Kenya's Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and
Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary, launched the STIP. They
identified the following initial issues where the United States and
Kenya will develop an ambitious roadmap for enhanced cooperation with
the goal of negotiating high-standard commitments in order to achieve
economically meaningful outcomes.
Agriculture. The United States and Kenya will consider measures to
facilitate agricultural trade and enhance transparency and
understanding of the application of science- and risk-based sanitary
and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. Both governments share an interest in
fostering sustainable agricultural practices, as well as creating an
enabling environment for innovative agricultural technologies that
would help achieve food security goals, increase farm productivity, and
improve farmer livelihoods, while addressing climate change concerns.
Anti-corruption. The United States and Kenya share a commitment to
prevent and combat bribery and other forms of corruption. They will
share information on best practices to prevent and combat bribery and
corruption and will explore negotiating specific commitments.
Digital Trade. The United States and Kenya share an interest in
fostering consumer, business, and worker trust in the digital economy,
ensuring access to information, promoting the development and use of
resilient and secure digital infrastructure, promoting competition and
the participation of MSMEs, and addressing discriminatory practices.
They will discuss measures to support digital inclusion, including
accessibility, and online consumer protection. Both countries also will
monitor global discussions on emerging issues in digital trade that are
of mutual interest.
Environment and Climate Change Action. The United States and Kenya
share common values with respect to environmental protection, a
commitment to conservation, pursuing measures to support climate change
adaptation and mitigation, and the importance of sustainable use and
management of each country's natural resources as they strengthen their
trade and investment relations. They will engage on strengthening these
efforts, including climate adaptation and mitigation practices. Both
countries also will consider opportunities to strengthen their
respective commitments in this area, including through cooperation.
Good Regulatory Practices. The United States and Kenya will explore
negotiating high-level commitments on topics such as ensuring adequate
time for public consultations on proposed regulations, posting proposed
regulations for review by interested stakeholders, and basing
regulatory decisions on best available information, science, and
evidence, including undertaking risk analysis and regulatory impact
assessment as appropriate. They also will explore negotiating
provisions on services domestic regulation.
Micro-, Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises. The United States and
Kenya believe that the success of MSMEs, including women-owned
enterprises, is a key element in promoting sustained economic growth.
They will discuss approaches to integrate MSMEs into international
trade, and will initiate periodic technical best practices exchanges
and roundtables on MSMEs.
Promoting Workers' Rights and Protections. The United States and
Kenya want to work together to advance and protect labor rights through
enforcement of, and compliance with, labor laws, promotion of social
dialogue, and cooperation in other areas of mutual interest on labor
and employment priorities, including forced labor in global supply
chains.
Supporting Participation of Women, Youth, and Others in Trade. The
United States and Kenya are committed to promoting economic
opportunities for women and youth and continue to examine how to
develop and adopt trade policies that promote and facilitate the
participation of women and youth in international trade and to promote
good paying, high-quality jobs and sustainable livelihoods. Both
countries will work to identify resources to support the economic
empowerment and participation of women, youth, persons with
disabilities, other vulnerable populations, and the African Diaspora in
trade to promote equitable and inclusive development.
Standards Collaboration. The United States and Kenya will discuss
the role of standards, conformity assessment procedures, and technical
regulations that have a significant impact on trade,
[[Page 48061]]
including opportunities to reduce impediments to trade due to
differences in their respective systems. They intend to engage on and
discuss in depth their respective processes for the preparation,
adoption, and application of technical regulations, standards and
conformity assessment procedures based on mutually agreed best
practices.
Trade Facilitation and Customs Procedures. The United States and
Kenya recognize the pandemic's impact on supply chains and the
demonstrated benefits of streamlining border procedures and
accelerating World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation
Agreement implementation for trade in goods during this challenging
time. They will discuss opportunities to simplify procedures,
especially those that allow new entrants to engage in trade. In this
regard, both countries will consider various customs practices,
transparency, and cooperation on customs enforcement to inform mutual
understanding, including the Agreement between the Government of the
United States and the Republic of Kenya Regarding Mutual Assistance
between their Customs Administrations, signed in Washington, DC, on
August 6, 2014. They also will explore other topics of engagement,
including trusted trader benefits for demonstrated low-risk importers,
particularly those that participate in their respective country's
Authorized Economic Operator program.
The United States will build upon high-standard trade commitments
and develop new approaches in trade policy to advance a broad set of
worker-centered priorities and promote durable, broad-based economic
growth for the United States and Kenya. At this time, the
Administration is not seeking to address tariff barriers.
II. Public Comment
The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) invites interested parties
to submit comments to assist USTR as it develops objectives and
positions for enhanced engagement and subsequent negotiation of high
standard commitments contemplated by the STIP. In particular, the TPSC
invites interested parties to comment on issues that USTR should
address in the STIP, including the following:
1. General negotiating objectives for the contemplated agreement.
2. Agriculture-related matters.
3. Anti-corruption-related matters.
4. Digital economy-related matters.
5. Environment- and climate change-related matters.
6. Transparency and good regulatory practice matters.
7. Matters of particular relevance to MSMEs.
8. Worker rights and protections-related matters.
9. Matters related to supporting the participation of women, youth,
and others in trade.
10. Matters related to standards collaboration.
11. Customs and trade facilitation matters.
12. Other measures or practices that undermine fair market
opportunities for U.S. workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses.
USTR requests small businesses (generally defined by the Small
Business Administration as firms with fewer than 500 employees) or
organizations representing small business members that submit comments
to self-identify as such, so that we may be aware of issues of
particular interest to small businesses.
III. Submission Instructions
Persons submitting written comments must do so in English and must
identify on the first page of the submission ``Comments Regarding U.S.-
Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership.''
The submission deadline is September 16, 2022. USTR strongly
encourages commenters to make online submissions, using
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. To submit comments via <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>, enter docket
number USTR-2022-0008 on the home page and click `search.' The site
will provide a search-results page listing all documents associated
with this docket. Find a reference to this notice and click on the link
entitled `comment'. For further information on using <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>,
please consult the resources provided on the website by clicking on
`FAQ' on the bottom of the home page.
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a> allows users to submit comments by filling in a
`type comment' field, or by attaching a document using an `upload file'
field. USTR prefers that you provide comments in an attached document.
USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat
(.pdf). If you use an application other than those two, please indicate
the name of the application in the `type comment' field.
Filers submitting comments that do not include any business
confidential information (BCI) should name their file using the name of
the person or entity submitting the comments. For any comments
submitted electronically containing BCI, the file name of the business
confidential version should begin with the characters `BCI.' Clearly
mark any page containing BCI with `BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL' on the top of
that page. Filers of submissions containing BCI also must submit a
public version of their comments that USTR will place in the docket for
public inspection. The file name of the public version should begin
with the character `P.' Follow the `BCI' and `P' with the name of the
person or entity submitting the comments.
Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic
submissions; rather, include any information that might appear in a
cover letter in the comments themselves. Similarly, to the extent
possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in
the same file as the submission itself, not as separate files.
As noted, USTR strongly urges that you file comments through
<a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>. You must make any alternative arrangements with
Spencer Smith at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#84d7f4e1eae7e1f6aac8aad7e9edf0ecb6c4f1f7f0f6aae1ebf4aae3ebf2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1c4f6c79727f796e3250324f717568742e5c696f686e3279736c327b736a">[email protected]</span></a> or (202) 395-2974 before
transmitting a comment and in advance of the deadline.
USTR will post comments in the docket for public inspection, except
properly designated BCI. You can view comments on the <a href="http://Regulations.gov">Regulations.gov</a>
by entering docket number USTR-2022-0008 in the search field on the
home page. General information concerning USTR is available at <a href="https://www.ustr.gov">https://www.ustr.gov</a>.
William Shpiece,
Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2022-16798 Filed 8-4-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F2-P
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