Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei has announced that Kenya will push for a waiver following the United States’ decision to impose a ten percent tariff on Kenyan exports under President Donald Trump’s administration.
In a statement issued on Thursday, April 3, Sing’oei clarified that the new tariff might not take effect immediately due to the existing African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). He explained that the framework, which was enacted in 2000, allows sub-Saharan African countries to export goods to the US duty-free, unless repealed by Congress or upon its expiry in September 2025.
“While the tariffs may be relatively low, we will actively push for their waiver. Additionally, since AGOA provides market access for African exporters, we believe that the new tariffs may not be immediately applicable until the law lapses or is repealed,” he stated.
Sing’oei also noted that Kenya is among a select group of nations subjected to the lowest tariff rate of ten percent, similar to countries such as the United Kingdom, Egypt, Morocco, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.
For long-term trade solutions, he emphasized the need for African countries to enhance intra-African trade to reduce dependency on external markets.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade has indicated that it will engage with Kenyan exporters and relevant stakeholders to discuss the implications of the new US trade policy and explore possible interventions.
