Kenya is simultaneously involved in several trade agreements such as World Trade Organization (WTO), East African Community (EAC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), EPA, etc. and the IEA Kenya identifies with the challenges and implications of being a member of free trade areas and customs union including the responsibility of understanding the issues under the agreements, interpreting the agreements, and adhering to the rules set out, need to continuously generate knowledge and information that will inform the trade negotiations and effectively disseminate this information and the need to determine and communicate the development impact of these trade agreements through research and knowledge and information sharing with both state and non-state actors.

Thus IEA Kenya looks to influence the formulation of development-oriented trade policies in Kenya. 

Monitor trade and negotiations agreements
Monitor, identify and examine the impact of multilateral, regional and bilateral trade negotiations and agreements in Kenya through engagements with stakeholders in the trade arena.
Policy Research
Development of appropriate trade policies in Kenya based on research that inform Kenya’s trade position at bilateral, regional or international level.
Trade agreement assessment
Review the impact of the components of trade agreements that Kenya is party to on development and poverty reduction.
Knowledge Dissemination
Through trade policy debates, research papers, forums targeting media, private sector, civil society and parliamentarians. 
Advocacy Networking
Development of appropriate trade policies in Kenya based on research that inform Kenya’s trade position at bilateral, regional or international level.