NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya and Iran have agreed to set up a joint committee to eliminate trade barriers within 60 days, paving the way for the resumption of Kenyan tea exports to the Middle Eastern nation.
The deal was reached during the 7th Session of the Kenya–Iran Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) held in Nairobi, co-chaired by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Iran’s Minister of Agricultural Jihad, Dr. Gholamreza Nouri Ghezalcheh.
The ban was imposed after investigations linked Kenyan firm Cup of Joe Limited to a criminal trade malpractice in which it imported low-grade tea, blended it, and re-exported it to Iran as premium Kenyan tea.
The Tea Board of Kenya has since deregistered the company, which now faces prosecution.
Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said both governments had agreed to introduce stringent regulations to protect the integrity of Kenyan tea exports.
“Kenya’s tea sector is one of our largest foreign exchange earners, and we must protect it from unscrupulous traders who damage our reputation,” he said.
Trade data shows Kenya exported 12.4 million kilograms of tea to Iran in 2023, valued at KSh4.28 billion, down from 17.8 million kilograms worth KSh5.85 billion in 2022.
The embargo has dealt a heavy blow to farmers and exporters.
The joint committee will draft a framework to restore market confidence, enforce quality standards, and resume tea exports before the 60-day deadline lapses.
