Kenya is one of the countries in Africa least taxed by the US government, and also among the least affected in the world, on a per export basis.
The Kenyan government's satisfaction comes in the wake of the Donald Trump administration's confirmation of 10% tariffs on both imports and exports from Kenya.
“Kenya's exports to the United States continue to benefit from a 10% tariff rate, the lowest among countries with comparable export interests,” Kenyan Minister of Trade and Investment Lee Kinyanjui announced yesterday.
Thanking Donald Trump, Kinyanjui recalled how the United States has always been a key strategic partner for Kenya in various sectors, including raw material exports, digital trade, tourism, and regional security cooperation. While Kenya has been spared the tariff increase, among the African countries most affected are South Africa and Algeria, which have been hit with a 30% tariff on their exports to the United States.
Other African countries hit hard by the tariff increase include Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Cameroon, Botswana, and Angola, which have been hit with a 15% tariff on exports. Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have also seen a 15% increase in reciprocal tariffs, joined by Uganda, which was not initially affected by the latest round of tariff increases. According to Trump, despite negotiations with some trading partners, Kenya, along with other unnamed countries, did not offer sufficient conditions to address trade imbalances.
In addition to tea, coffee, avocados, and other fruits, which are the country's main exports, Kenya also produces finished products, such as jeans, for US companies and semi-processes other materials.