Skip to content
Kenyan farmers and exporters are set to access the Chinese market more easily after Kenya secured duty-free treatment on about 98.2 per cent of tariff lines.
The arrangement covers major Kenyan exports such as avocados, tea, coffee, macadamia nuts, fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, hides and skins.
The removal of import duties could make Kenyan products more competitive in China by lowering the cost of exported goods.
Avocado farmers could gain from the arrangement as exporters seek to increase shipments to the Chinese market. Kenya already exports avocados to China, giving producers an established market to build on.
Tea and coffee producers could also benefit as exporters gain more room to compete on price.
Macadamia and Flower Exports
Macadamia farmers and processors could tap into China’s growing demand for nuts and processed food products.
The deal also covers value-added products such as avocado oil, packaged coffee and processed hides. This could encourage Kenyan businesses to process more agricultural products locally before exporting them.
Flower growers could also gain another market beyond Europe’s traditional destinations.
Trade Principal Secretary Regina Ombam said the arrangement forms an early step towards a broader free-trade agreement between Kenya and China.
An Early Harvest Agreement allows countries to remove trade barriers on selected products before completing negotiations for a comprehensive agreement.
China’s population of about 1.4 billion people presents a major opportunity for Kenyan producers and exporters seeking new customers.
Kenya Seeks to Reduce Trade Imbalance
The deal comes as Kenya looks to increase exports and reduce its trade imbalance with China.
Kenya imported goods worth about Ksh557.9 billion from China in 2024, while Kenyan exports to the Asian country stood at approximately Ksh25.4 billion.
The large gap highlights the need for Kenya to expand the range and volume of products it sells to China.
The new arrangement could therefore give Kenyan farmers, manufacturers and exporters a stronger opportunity to increase their presence in one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
About The Author
