The US-Kenya FTA: What to look out for in Digital Trade and IP Chapters

In continuing with our series on the US-Kenya FTA, this week’s episode grapples with some of the main areas, that may be included in the FTA, that we are pondering on in digital trade and intellectual property. The host for this episode is Dr. Melissa Omino, and the guests are Abdulmalik Adan and Joanna Kahumbu. 

Agreements mentioned:

TRIPS - https://www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/27-trips.pdf 

Japan-US FTA - https:// www.mofa.go.jp/files/000527401.pdf 

Update on the US Kenya FTA materials:

US Negotiation Objectives : https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/Summary_of_U.S.-Kenya_Negotiating_Objectives.pdf 

Kenya Negotiation Objectives: http://www.industrialization.go.ke/index.php/kenya-usa-free-trade-area-agreement 

Information on the virtual first phase of negotiations: http://www.industrialization.go.ke/index.php/kenya-usa-free-trade-area-agreement/580-joint-statement-between-the-united-states-and-kenya-on-the-launch-of-negotiations-towards-a-free-trade-agreement 

References: 

Digital Economy Blueprint, 2019 - https://ca.go.ke/the-digital-economy-blueprint/ 

Draft Digital Economy Strategy, 2020 - https://ict.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/10TH-JULY-FINAL-COPY-DIGITAL-ECONOMY-STRATEGY-DRAFT-ONE.pdf 

National ICT Policy, 2019 - https://www.ict.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/NATIONAL-ICT-POLICY-2019.pdf 

Data Protection Act, 2019 - http://kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/pdfdownloads/Acts/2019/TheDataProtectionAct__No24of2019.pdf 

Finance Act, 2019 - http://kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/pdfdownloads/AmendmentActs/2019/FinanceAct_No23of2019.PDF 

Finance Act, 2020 - http://kenyalaw.org/kl/fileadmin/pdfdownloads/Acts/2020/TheFinanceAct_No.8of2020.pdf 

Comments submitted to USTR : https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=25&so=DESC&sb=commentDueDate&po=0&D=USTR-2020-0011 

Knopt H, ‘The cost of Canadian IP Capitulation in NAFTA’, Excess Copyright, 01 October 2018, http://excesscopyright.blogspot.com/2018/10/the-cost-of-canadian-ip-capitulation-in.html?m=1

Music details: Fuzzball Parade by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5044-fuzzball-parade
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/