President Donald Trump has imposed a 10 percent reciprocal tariff on Kenyan exports to the United States. Announcing the move from the White House Rose Garden during what he called “Liberation Day,” President Trump stated that the new tariffs are aimed at leveling the playing field in international trade and countering what he described as “cheating” in global commerce.
“This is our declaration of economic independence,” President Trump declared, emphasizing that the tariffs will help rebuild the American economy and ensure fair trade practices. Kenya was among several African nations specifically named in his speech, with President Trump justifying the decision by highlighting that Kenya already imposes a 10 percent tariff on American imports.
Kenya currently charges import taxes averaging 13.8 percent, with higher rates for agricultural products such as milk (60 percent) and sugar (100 percent). The U.S. released its 2025 National Trade Estimate report on Wednesday, painting a bleak picture of Kenya’s trade environment and setting the stage for the tariffs.
The reciprocal tariff is expected to significantly impact Kenya’s trade with the U.S., which amounted to $1.5 billion in 2024. Kenyan exports to the U.S. totaled $737.3 million last year, a 17.5 percent drop from 2023. Key exports include apparel, coffee, and tea. Meanwhile, Kenyan imports from the U.S. rose sharply by 61.4 percent to $782.5 million, driven by increased demand for American goods.
Kenya has long benefited from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which exempts it from U.S. tariffs. However, AGOA is set to expire in September 2024, making the new tariff particularly concerning for Kenyan exporters.
The policy also affects other African nations, including Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Uganda, all of whom will now face the 10 percent tariff. The development has sparked concerns among Kenyan businesses that rely on the U.S. market, with trade analysts warning that it could disrupt exports and hurt economic growth.
As the September AGOA deadline looms, Kenya may need to renegotiate its trade terms with Washington to secure favorable conditions and mitigate the potential economic fallout from President Trump’s latest move.
