Kenya retains lowest US export tariff under new Trump order

Kenya will continue to enjoy the lowest tariff rate on its exports to the United States following the signing of a new Executive Order by US President Donald Trump, which introduced reciprocal tariffs on imports from several countries.

The order sets tariff rates ranging from 10 per cent to 41 per cent and is expected to take effect in seven days. Kenya’s exports will remain subject to a 10 per cent tariff—the lowest rate among countries with similar export profiles.

The new tariffs will affect major trading partners such as the United Kingdom, Brazil, Japan, India, Israel, and several nations across Africa.

Kenya, however, was among the few countries exempted, retaining its existing preferential tariff status under US trade arrangements.

In a statement, the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry confirmed that Kenya remains committed to strengthening its long-standing trade and investment relationship with the United States.

The ministry described the US as a key strategic partner, with cooperation spanning commodity exports, digital trade, tourism, and regional security.

Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui emphasised that Kenya will continue to engage constructively with US authorities to safeguard and expand the historical trade ties that have benefited both nations.

"Kenya remains committed to deepening its longstanding trade and investment relationship with the US. The United States continues to be a key strategic partner for Kenya across various sectors, including commodity exports, digital trade, tourism, and regional security cooperation," said Kinyanjui.

The continuation of the low tariff rate is seen as a positive sign for Kenyan exporters, offering some certainty amid shifting global trade dynamics.

President Donald Trump stated that the decision to lower tariffs for certain countries was a necessary step to address the national emergency declared under Executive Order 14257.

“I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257 by imposing additional ad valorem duties on goods of certain trading partners at the rates set forth,” Trump said.

Uganda is the only East African nation included in the tariff list and will be subject to a fifteen per cent reciprocal duty.

Among African countries, South Africa, Algeria, and Libya face the highest rate of thirty per cent, followed by Tunisia at twenty-five per cent. A fifteen per cent tariff will apply to several other African nations, including Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Equatorial Guinea. Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe will also be subject to the same rate.

Globally, the steepest tariffs are aimed at Syria, which faces a forty-one per cent rate, while Laos and Myanmar will face forty per cent. Switzerland will be taxed at thirty-nine per cent, and both Iraq and Serbia at thirty-five per cent. Bosnia and Herzegovina falls into the thirty per cent bracket.