NAIROBI, Kenya – Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has ramped up negotiations with China, pressing Beijing to eliminate steep tariffs on Kenya’s leading agricultural products and unlock long-awaited export approvals.
Speaking in Nairobi during a meeting with senior officials from the General Administration of China Customs (GACC), Kagwe urged China to accelerate the opening of its market to Kenyan coffee, tea, avocados, mangoes, dried chillies, green grams, dried fruits and livestock products.
The visiting delegation was led by GACC Vice Minister Wang Jun, accompanied by senior directors overseeing duty collection, quarantine and international cooperation, alongside Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan.
Kagwe said Kenyan farmers continued to suffer unfairly due to the current tariff regime imposed by Beijing.
“Our products face high duties — 8 per cent on non-roasted coffee, 20 per cent on roasted coffee, 15 per cent on tea and up to 20 per cent on avocados,” he told the officials.
“We are asking China to accelerate the move toward zero duty so that our farmers finally benefit from fair access to this important market.”
He noted that despite growing diplomatic ties, Kenya-China trade remains heavily imbalanced.
In 2024, Kenya imported $4.5 billion (Sh583.9 billion) worth of goods from China, while exporting only $290 million (Sh37.6 billion) in return.
“This imbalance is unsustainable. We must correct it through deliberate and urgent measures,” the CS said.
Kagwe revealed that Kenya and China are close to concluding a bilateral trade framework that would eliminate tariffs on major Kenyan farm exports.
But delays in signing and activating the agreement, he warned, are stalling profits for rural producers.
“The commitments made between President Ruto and President Xi Jinping must now move from promise to action,” he said. “Farmers cannot continue waiting.”
He also assured the Chinese delegation that Kenya has already completed almost all technical requirements needed for market access.
According to the CS, KEPHIS has finalised export protocols for fresh mangoes, dried chillies, green grams, dried fruits and plant-based medicinal materials.
“Kenya is fully ready. All that remains is China’s final approval so that large-scale shipments can begin.”
Beyond tariff concerns, Kagwe pushed for deeper cooperation in research, value chain development, laboratory capacity and specialist training, including exchanges of scientists and technical staff.
He singled out livestock products as another priority area, noting that several export applications have been pending for more than two years.
Securing access for Kenyan meat, he said, would be a “historic breakthrough” that could unlock a major new market.
Kagwe closed the meeting with a clear message: Kenya has done its part and now expects timely action from Beijing.
“Kenya is prepared, aligned and committed. What we need now is the conversion of policy promises into real export volumes and expanded market access for our farmers.”
