On 18th July 2023, the US Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, co-led the meeting of the U.S.-East African Community (EAC) Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council with Dr Peter Mutuku Mathuki, the Secretary General of the EAC. The EAC consists of seven Partner States—the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Burundi.

During the meeting, Ambassador Tai and the EAC Partner States highlighted the success of the U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit held in Washington, D.C. in December and the increased engagement by leaders of the Biden-Harris Administration with the EAC and the continent. The parties also discussed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of the US Trade Representative and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Secretariat. In addition to thanking the EAC Partner States for the illuminating discussion and welcoming continued engagement on these topics, Ambassador Tai emphasised that the United States Congress will eventually make the final choices about AGOA. Ambassador Tai reinforced the partnership between the US and the EAC while both sides look forward to the work ahead including the 2023 AGOA forum.