Kenya to discuss tariff deal with USA in Washington
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 6 – Kenya will hold a meeting with the United States in Washington on August 20 to discuss a potential review of tariffs affecting Kenyan exports, Trade and Investments Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui has confirmed.
Speaking during a morning show interview on Capital FM, Kinyanjui said the talks will focus on reaching a deal that improves Kenya’s market access in the U.S., especially following the imposition of a 10 percent blanket tariff earlier this year.
“Kenya is placed favorably. We already filed our appeal, and now we are scheduled to meet U.S. authorities to settle on a tariff structure that gives Kenya an upper hand,” the CS said.
“Some of our sacrifices on global fronts should be compensated with a better tariff that attracts investments and business into Kenya.”
The U.S. slapped an additional 10 percent tariff on Kenyan exports in May, on top of the existing 10 percent rate, with President Donald Trump citing trade imbalances with several foreign nations.
Despite the move, Kinyanjui sees a silver lining, saying the new tariffs could make Kenya more attractive to foreign investors compared to other countries facing even steeper rates.
“The most important thing in tariffs is not how much you’re charged, but the differential between you and your competitors,” he explained.
“Kenya’s main export is textiles, and while we face a 10 percent tariff, competitors like Sri Lanka and Vietnam are dealing with rates of 15 to 30 percent.”
Kenya hopes to use the upcoming talks to secure more favorable trade terms and position itself as a preferred sourcing destination for American businesses, especially in the textile and apparel sectors.
The tariff talks come amid broader discussions under the U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP), aimed at deepening bilateral trade ties ahead of the expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in 2025.
