Beijing: Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has today met senior officials from the General Administration of China Customs (GACC) to push for the accelerated clearance of Kenyan agricultural and livestock products into the Chinese market. This initiative is part of Kenya’s ongoing efforts to unlock export pathways for key commodities such as coffee, tea, avocados, mangoes, dried chillies, green grams, dried fruits, and various livestock products.
According to Kenya News Agency, during the high-level delegation meeting led by GACC Vice Minister Wang Jun, Kagwe highlighted the current high tariffs imposed by China on Kenyan produce, including 8 percent on non-roasted coffee, 20 percent on roasted coffee, 15 percent on tea, and up to 20 percent on avocados. He urged the GACC to move towards zero duty on these flagship commodities to help rebalance trade between Kenya and China.
Kagwe noted that the trade between the two countries is heavily skewed, with Kenya importing significantly more than it exports. In 2024, Kenya imported approximately USD 4.5 billion worth of goods from China, while only exporting USD 290 million, primarily raw agri-commodities like tea and avocado. The cabinet secretary emphasized the need to address this unsustainable deficit through tariff elimination and rapid sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) clearance for Kenyan exports.
As part of ongoing initiatives, Kagwe explained that Kenya and China are in the process of finalizing a bilateral trade framework aimed at eliminating tariffs on major Kenyan agricultural exports. However, final signatures and operationalization have been delayed, causing concern among local farmers and exporters. He stressed that the agreement reached between President William Ruto and President Xi Jinping must now move from promise to action.
Kenya has completed required technical submissions, with the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) confirming readiness of protocols for fresh mango, dried chilies, green grams, dried fruits (mango, banana, and pineapple), and plant-derived medicinal materials, pending approval at GACC. Kagwe assured the GACC delegation that Kenya is fully prepared for expanded agricultural trade and awaits China’s final approvals to commence large-scale shipments.
Beyond tariffs, Kenya seeks deeper cooperation in agricultural research, value chain upgrading, laboratory strengthening, and specialist training, including the exchange of scientists and technical staff. Kagwe emphasized that clearing livestock export applications, some pending for over two years, would be a historic breakthrough for Kenyan farmers and processors, particularly the entry of Kenyan meat into China.
The meeting was attended by GACC officials, including Sun Renhong, Zheng Wei, Sun Junchao, and Jiang Huixin, along with Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Ms. Guo Haiyan, Minister Counsellor Mr. Zhou Zhencheng, and Second Secretary Mr. Zeng Hui.
