[kictanet] U.S. FTA Agreement

Wed Sep 2 09:59:40 EAT 2020

Hi Listers
My two cents on the FTA .
The problems with data protection not withstanding, back to the original
question Ali asked why there are 9 American companies on the FTA
negotiation list; while on the one hand they might argue that these MNCs
are also registered here (if that's the case), the bigger issue is what is
the real benefit to Kenyan companies. This is reminiscent of the problems
that the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU caused where
local producers ended up being disadvantaged getting the short end of the
stick of being relegated to raw material providers, no participation and
disadvantaged in costs with lack of government subsidies as opposed to the
EU producers. As long as this is the case, the local producers do not get
value for their produce, with very little value addition, we end up buying
back our own products as imported goods when they are sold back to us as
finished products. While this consortium seems to have Kenyan companies, it
would be insightful to know the composition of those Kenyan companies, and
if the 9 MNCs are representative or take the centre stage at the
negotiations as Kenyan companies then that is problematic as there is no
real negotiations with no real participation of Kenyan companies - still a
case of scoring own goals- another short end of the stick to local
producers where we remain relegated to raw materials producers and net
importers of finished goods. Our industries can't grow under such trade
agreements.

Regards
Beryl

On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 9:03 AM Ali Hussein via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Asante Mugambi.
>
> *Ali Hussein*
>
> Digital Transformation
>
>
> Tel: +254 713 601113
>
> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>
> Skype: abu-jomo
>
> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
> <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>
>
>
>
> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely
> mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
> organizations that I work with.
>
>
> On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 8:48 AM Mugambi Laibuta <mlaibuta at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> California law does not apply to all states. Also have a look at the
>> article I shared
>>
>> Data Transfers and the Kenya-US Trade Talks
>> https://www.laibuta.com/data-protection/data-transfers-and-the-kenya-us-trade-talks/
>>
>> Kind regards,
>>
>> Mugambi Laibuta
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 2, 2020, 08:46 Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke> wrote:
>>
>>> Mugambi
>>>
>>> I find it hard to believe that the U.S. has no Data Protection laws.
>>> Please expound on this. I know for instance that California has a
>>> comprehensive Privacy Act. Here is a link to that.
>>>
>>> California Data Privacy Law.
>>> <https://www.csoonline.com/article/3292578/california-consumer-privacy-act-what-you-need-to-know-to-be-compliant.html>
>>>
>>> I guess you are referring to Federal law?
>>>
>>> Regards
>>>
>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>
>>> Digital Transformation
>>>
>>>
>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>
>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>
>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>
>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>> <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely
>>> mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
>>> organizations that I work with.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 8:32 AM Mugambi Laibuta via kictanet <
>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>
>>>> In a nutshell, with the agreement, there is bound to be challenges in
>>>> relation to data transfers. The Data Protection Act provides that transfers
>>>> should be to countries that have data laws similar to ours. The US does not
>>>> have concrete data protection laws. Will we use the trade agreement to with
>>>> away our data to a country that has no data protection laws?
>>>>
>>>> Kind regards,
>>>>
>>>> Mugambi Laibuta
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Sep 2, 2020, 08:29 Grace Githaiga <ggithaiga at hotmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> @Mugambi Laibuta <mlaibuta at gmail.com>
>>>>>
>>>>> Please give us some of the highlights...for the quick reader.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>> *Grace Githaiga*
>>>>>
>>>>> Twitter: @ggithaiga
>>>>>
>>>>> Skype: gracegithaiga
>>>>>
>>>>> Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracegithaiga
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> .*..**the most important office in a democracy is the citizen. So,
>>>>> you see, that’s what our democracy demands. It needs you!----Barrack Obama.*
>>>>>
>>>>> ------------------------------
>>>>> *From:* kictanet <kictanet-bounces+ggithaiga=
>>>>> hotmail.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke> on behalf of Mugambi Laibuta via
>>>>> kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
>>>>> *Sent:* 02 September 2020 8:23 AM
>>>>> *To:* ggithaiga at hotmail.com <ggithaiga at hotmail.com>
>>>>> *Cc:* Mugambi Laibuta <mlaibuta at gmail.com>
>>>>> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] U.S. FTA Agreement
>>>>>
>>>>> I wrote on the aspect of data transfers -
>>>>>
>>>>> Data Transfers and the Kenya-US Trade Talks:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.laibuta.com/data-protection/data-transfers-and-the-kenya-us-trade-talks/
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>
>>>>> Mugambi Laibuta
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, Sep 2, 2020, 08:20 Ali Hussein via kictanet <
>>>>> kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Dear Listers. The above refers.
>>>>>
>>>>> So the Kenya government has been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement
>>>>> with the U.S. Government. below is the high-level Vision for the #FTA
>>>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=fta&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6706564288401686528>
>>>>> :-
>>>>>
>>>>> *To conclude an agreement with Kenya that can serve as a model for
>>>>> additional agreements in Africa, leading to a network of agreements that
>>>>> contribute to Africa’s regional integration objectives. In addition, the
>>>>> goal is to conclude an agreement that builds on the objectives of #AGOA
>>>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=agoa&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A6706564288401686528> and
>>>>> will serve as an enduring foundation to expand U.S -Africa trade and
>>>>> investment across the continent.*
>>>>>
>>>>> Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA)
>>>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/kenya-private-sector-alliance-kepsa/> in
>>>>> its wisdom chose a number of companies to be in the consortium of the
>>>>> US-Kenya FTA negotiations/conversations.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now...Is it just me or don't I understand International Trade?
>>>>> Someone, please explain to me why in that group of companies you have 9
>>>>> American companies on the list? Including IBM
>>>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/ibm/>, The Coca-Cola Company
>>>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company/>, and Citi
>>>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/citi/>.
>>>>>
>>>>> This is like scoring an own goal before starting the game! Or am I
>>>>> wrong? Please explain to me the rationale?
>>>>>
>>>>> Join the conversation.
>>>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alihkassim_kepsa-consortium-on-the-us-kenya-fta-activity-6706564288401686528-4zlk>
>>>>>
>>>>> *Ali Hussein*
>>>>>
>>>>> Digital Transformation
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Tel: +254 713 601113
>>>>>
>>>>> Twitter: @AliHKassim
>>>>>
>>>>> Skype: abu-jomo
>>>>>
>>>>> LinkedIn: http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim
>>>>> <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are
>>>>> purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the
>>>>> organizations that I work with.
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>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
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>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
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> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>

-- 
Beryl
***********************************************
Beryl Aidi
Freelance Campaign and Communication Specialist
Skype: beryl.aidi
Twitter: @thespannergal

Darkness cannot put out the Light. It can only make God brighter. —Author
Unknown.
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