The fate of a Kenyan factory producing Wrangler and Levi's jeans hangs in the balance as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) nears its September expiration date. The factory, United Aryan, employs 10,000 workers and supports another 140,000 indirectly, relying heavily on AGOA's duty-free access to the US market. With President Trump's stance on free trade, the future of AGOA remains uncertain, putting thousands of jobs at risk.
Wrangler and Levi's jeans are manufactured in Kenya , benefiting from the African Growth and Opportunity Act's trade advantages, which may expire in September, threatening the livelihoods of 150,000 people who depend on it. The factory may be in East Africa, but the Wrangler and Levi's jeans rolling off the production line are pure Americana, destined for US stores like Walmart and JCPenney.
The United Aryan factory, on the outskirts of Kenya's capital Nairobi, exists for one reason: the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a 25-year-old US law that gives duty-free access to thousands of goods made on the continent, particularly clothes. But AGOA will expire in September unless President Donald Trump agrees to extend it — a decision putting hundreds of thousands of African livelihoods on a knife-edge. Though the programme has bipartisan support, it's going up against a president known for his free-trade scepticism. Adding to the pressure is a time crunch: to prepare for the year ahead, the United Aryan factory's clients need to know by next month if AGOA will survive. United Aryan ships up to eight million pairs of jeans to the United States each year, and millions more shirts and other items. It has also transformed a once dangerous area of the city, said CEO Pankaj Bedi, who said local gangs would often'steal everything down to the copper cable' when they first set up in 2002. 'Today, you can see, it's a well-developed community,' he told AFP.'We have 150,000 people who directly or indirectly depend on us. It has stabilised the whole socio-economics of the area.'Each day, thousands gather outside the gates, hoping to fill in for absences among the 10,000 staff. An average assembly line worker earns around $200 a month, a decent wage in Kenya. 'Our families are happy, our children go to school, crime has gone down,' said Norah Nasimiyu, 48, a worker representative on the shop floor, surrounded by colleagues stitching pockets and slicing huge piles of denim.New global trade rules in 2005 swamped markets with Asian clothing. The 2008 financial crash and the Covid-19 pandemic almost flatlined the business.'But when you have 150,000 people dependent on what you do, you have a responsibility. Shutting down a business is a five-minute job, but to establish and create this kind of platform is not easy.
AGOA Kenya Wrangler Levi's Trade Jobs Employment African Growth And Opportunity Act US Market
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How the invasive water hyacinth is threatening fishermen's livelihoods on a popular Kenyan lakeWater hyacinth was first sighted on Kenya's popular Lake Naivasha about 10 years ago. Now it has become a large, glossy mat that can cover swathes of the lake. To fishermen, the invasive plant is a threat to livelihoods. The problem is a common one beyond Naivasha.
Read more »
Haitian and Kenyan Security Forces Crack Down on Gang-Controlled Carnival ActivitiesHaitian and Kenyan-led multinational security forces launched a major operation in Croix-des-Bouquets to dismantle pre-Carnival activities organized by the 400 Mawozo gang. The operation involved heavy gunfire and the breaking of gang barricades. Authorities also seized a generator used to power the gang's activities. The operation continued in the nearby commune of Tabarre, resulting in the arrest of several members of the Krazé barrière gang.
Read more »
Kenyan Police Arrive in Haiti as US Funding Freeze Raises ConcernsA fourth contingent of Kenyan police landed in Haiti to combat violent gangs, despite a US decision to freeze millions in aid for the U.N.-backed mission. Officials downplayed the impact of the funding freeze, emphasizing continued support from the US and other partners.
Read more »
Physicists Detect Most Energetic ‘Ghost Particle’ Ever—30,000 Times More Powerful Than LHC ParticlesThe staggeringly energetic neutrino likely came from beyond our galaxy, and physicists have two main suspects.
Read more »
Who can share seeds? As climate change and counterfeits hurt Kenyan farmers, it's a growing questionClimate change and recent troubles with counterfeit seeds have challenged Kenya's agriculture efforts to improve food security. While a government-backed seed bank has been reintroducing some traditional seeds to farms at no cost, a Kenyan law bans seed-sharing. More than a dozen farmers across the country have been challenging the ban in court.
Read more »
Africa Has Lessons to Learn from Trump's Protectionist PoliciesWhile the world reacts with concern to President Trump's protectionist policies, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta sees it as an opportunity for Africa. He urges the continent to leverage its vast natural resources and become self-sufficient, reducing reliance on foreign aid. The article explores the potential of Africa's resources and the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in achieving economic growth and prosperity.
Read more »