04/16/2026
Strategic Alliance Formed at UBA Kenya to Boost Africa-US-China Trade Under AGOA and Sino New Tariff free Policies
NAIROBI, Kenya – In a significant development for trilateral trade relations, top business leaders convened at the UBA Kenya headquarters in Nairobi for a high-level strategic meeting aimed at creating a new collaborative alliance. The initiative is designed to boost business between African companies and their counterparts in the United States and China.
The meeting brought together Mary Mulili, Managing Director/CEO of UBA Kenya; Sun Wentie, Founder and President of the American-Chinese CEO Society (ACCS); and Elizabeth A. Vazquez, President, CEO, and Co-Founder of WEConnect International, alongside representatives from the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) International.
The alliance seeks to leverage two major international trade frameworks: the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and China’s upcoming zero-tariff policy for African nations.
Seizing New Trade Opportunities
AGOA Context
The discussions come as AGOA, a cornerstone of U.S. trade policy toward sub-Saharan Africa since 2000, is currently authorized through December 2026 . The program provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for most exports from eligible African countries. In 2024, U.S. AGOA imports totaled $8.0 billion, with key categories including passenger vehicles ($2.4 billion), apparel ($1.2 billion), and agricultural products ($949 million) .
China’s Zero-Tariff Policy
The alliance also positions African businesses to capitalize on China’s landmark trade initiative. Starting May 1, 2026, China will eliminate tariffs on goods from 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations . This policy expands upon a December 2024 measure that initially covered 33 least-developed African nations. China-Africa trade reached a record $348.05 billion in 2025, marking a 17.7% increase from the previous year .
Leadership Perspectives
Mary Mulili, who leads UBA’s operations in Kenya, has been a vocal advocate for inclusive financial systems that support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-led businesses . Under her leadership, UBA Kenya has partnered with the Tony Elumelu Foundation to empower entrepreneurs, with over 1,200 Kenyan entrepreneurs receiving training, mentorship, and seed capital .
"We are committed to enhancing our lending capacity so entrepreneurs can access the capital, knowledge, and networks they need to thrive," Mulili has previously stated regarding SME development .
Elizabeth A. Vazquez, co-founder of WEConnect International, brings extensive experience in connecting women-owned businesses to global supply chains. WEConnect International has been actively involved in hosting summits focused on shaping the future of trade, strengthening resilient economies, and accelerating supplier development for women-led enterprises .
Robert Sun, founder of the American-Chinese CEO Society, has been actively promoting international business cooperation between China and the United States. The ACCS has recently organized events focused on identifying opportunities in East Africa and supporting enterprise internationalization .
Alliance Objectives and Expected Impact
The newly proposed alliance aims to:
1. Facilitate market access for African companies seeking to export under AGOA provisions, which currently cover 32 eligible sub-Saharan African countries
2. Prepare African businesses for China’s zero-tariff regime effective May 1, 2026, which is expected to dramatically lower barriers for African exports to the world’s second-largest economy
3. Promote women-in-trade initiatives, leveraging OWIT International’s global network of over 2,000 members across chapters in the Americas, Western Europe, and Africa
4. Enhance supply chain integration between Africa, the US, and China
Strategic Significance
The meeting at UBA Kenya underscores Nairobi’s growing role as a hub for international trade negotiations. With both AGOA’s future beyond 2026 under review by the Trump administration and China actively expanding its trade footprint in Africa, the timing of this alliance is particularly strategic .
UBA Kenya, under Mulili’s leadership, has positioned itself as a key financial intermediary capable of supporting cross-border trade flows. The bank has established specialized financial solutions including working capital, asset financing, and overdraft facilities to help businesses scale and sustain their operations .
The alliance is expected to formalize its structure and announce specific action plans in the coming months, with initial focus on sectors where African countries hold comparative advantages, including agriculture, apparel, and light manufacturing.
UBA team member David Owiti，Head Business Banking, Catherine Awuor attend the meeting；
Others present:
1. Malei Nthiwa -Managing Director -Bola Properties Limited
2. Males Nthiwa，ACCS African Chapter Propaganda and Business Development Director
3.Elizabeth A.Vazquez -CEO and Founder WeConnect International-Washington DC
4.Ms. Frida Owinga -WeConnect International
5.Arc. Salome Kavindu -Owit Kenya -President
6.Ms. Grace Mutanu -OWIT Kenya Vice President-Resource Mobilization
7.Ms .Wambui Cerere-Vice President
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OWit Kenya-Membership
8.Derby Hassan - Vice President Owit Kenya -Marketing
9.Kyende Ndeti -ACCS Africa Chapter-Strategy Director
10. Grace Kasema -ACCS Africa Chapter PR Director
· UBA Kenya: A subsidiary of United Bank for Africa, one of Africa's largest banking groups with presence in 20 African countries
· American-Chinese CEO Society (ACCS): Founded by Robert Sun the current President and a small group of CEO's from China and U.S., promoting business collaboration between US and Chinese enterprises for the last 21 yes and now link to African continent since the newly established African Chapter since September 2024 based in Kenya.
· WEConnect International: A global organization based in USA connecting women-owned businesses with qualified buyers worldwide, co-founded by Elizabeth A. Vazquez
· OWIT International: A professional organization supporting women's advancement in international trade since 1989，based in USA
www.accs-africa.org
