Kenya has received a major trade boost after the government began talks with China to secure duty-free and quota-free market access for Kenyan goods, following concerns that the country had been left out of China’s Africa trade programme.
In a statement, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui said Kenya has been working to expand its export markets to reduce trade imbalances and grow the economy.
He explained that China recently announced duty-free and quota-free access for African countries, but the move mainly benefited Least Developed Countries, leaving developing nations such as Kenya at a disadvantage.
“We noted that Kenya was not fully benefiting from this arrangement, so we initiated discussions with China to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement that would give us similar privileges as our neighbours and other African countries,” Kinyanjui said.
The talks have already borne fruit, with Kenya securing a preliminary agreement that will allow 98.2 per cent of Kenyan goods to enter the Chinese market at zero duty.
“This early harvest agreement is a major milestone and shows China’s commitment to strengthening trade ties with Kenya,” he said.
Kinyanjui said the zero-duty access will open up huge opportunities for Kenyan exporters, especially in agriculture, which is the backbone of the country’s economy. He added that the move is expected to create jobs, boost exports and bring real benefits to Kenyan farmers and businesses.
“The Government remains committed to pursuing trade opportunities that strengthen our global partnerships and grow our economy,” he said.
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